Root 'Getting Better With Age'

England captain Harry Brook's assessment that Joe Root "is only getting better with age" is likely to send shivers down the spines of bowlers all around the world.

Root surpassed World Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan to become England's leading run-scorer in one-day internationals during his epic 166 not out against West Indies in Cardiff, a title he also holds in Tests.

He came to the crease in the first over, and withstood all of West Indies' pressure when England were on the ropes at 133-5 in pursuit of 309 to win.

A 98-ball century was raised having barely broken a sweat, reaching it in style with a six and a four, before the Yorkshireman glided into the next gear in his stand of 143 with Will Jacks which saw the helpless bowlers at his mercy.

"He's unbelievable and he's only getting better with age as well," said Brook, who made 47 and added a counter-attacking 85 for the third wicket with Root, who stayed in his skipper's slipstream in a perfectly paced knock.

"He's someone I look up to, he's such an amazing player, such an amazing bloke. He works the hardest out of anyone I've seen.

"Nothing's ever right and he's always trying to get better - he's the perfect role model for any young cricketer out there."

Upon reaching 42, Root bettered Morgan's tally of 6,957 runs and with typical modesty said it felt like "a sign of getting old" when asked about what the milestone meant - before adding there is plenty more in the tank as far as his future in the format is concerned, though he is still some way from reaching Sachin Tendulkar's record of 18,426.

"Until that desire, that want to turn up and get better every day and add to the group – the want to be not out at the end of a chase like that – when that's not a burning desire for me any more, it'll be time to stop," said 34-year-old Root.

"But that's not the case at the moment and doesn't feel like it's anywhere near the case. I will keep just trying to do my part in helping us win games and hopefully win series."

Much of the second ODI belonged to West Indies: England spilled three catches inside the first 20 overs, missed two run out chances and then Jamie Smith, Ben Duckett and Jos Buttler all made ducks in the chase.

But Root's class prevailed, his 18th ODI century almost certainly one of his finest.

"We are running out of things to say, he's just on this constant journey of ticking everything off before him," former England fast bowler Steven Finn told BBC Test Match Special.

"Now he's head and shoulders above the rest and the innings he played today signified his position in that.

"He was so determined to be there at the end and the way he read the situation, soaked up pressure, saw people fall around him - West Indies had no answer."

-  Author: Ffion Wynne, BBC