The last few days have shown that England don’t need Joe Root as a captain, he’s done his time with the armband and the burden. The bloke who is still right for that job was busy smashing 95 runs for Durham 300 miles north. On Sunday, England will need Joe Root for his runs. Some things never change.

With a first-innings lead of 100 runs, the visitors ended day three with an overall lead of 352 runs and seven wickets still in hand.

In a cricketing universe swaying to the transient pleasures of T20s, Root has been a slow-burn champion, often revealing how Tests are the real deal. 14,000 is done, more peaks await.

Joe Root's batting prowess shone at The Oval, but England's heavy defeat to New Zealand saw him equal Stephen Fleming's record for most Test captaincy losses with 27. Despite a strong performance from Root,