Root and Anderson break Test record for tenth-wicket partnership.

James Anderson made a career-best 81 as he and
 Root accumulated 198 for the tenth-wicket.

It is one of the rarest sights in cricket is to see Lancashire and Yorkshire working together in harmony, but when Joe Root and James Anderson broke the record for the highest tenth-wicket stand in Test history, a bridge was formed across the Pennines.

After a certain amount of doubt as to how English cricket was going to recover from a tumultuous winter, it is fair to say that there are a number of reasons to smile, even if the results are not clear to see.

The new era has highlighted some of the key issues facing England’s immediate future in Test cricket, none greater than the absence of a front-line spinner, but the flow of runs is an obvious crowd-pleaser and is also an easy way to silence the critics.

Yorkshire duo, Gary Ballance and Root continue to offer consistency with the bat, the latter averaging over 40 in just 18 Tests after reaching his fourth Test century against India at Trent Bridge and Sam Robson seems to have secured his spot as opening batsman.

But the sight which has restored faith, pleasure and, most importantly, confidence, was the partnership between Root and James Anderson in the first Test against India.

A revitalized top-order, propelled England towards 134/1, but the loss of eight wickets for 164 runs saw the hosts facing a daunting deficit, as old habits started to creep back into their batting.

When Anderson stepped to the crease, Root had just reached fifty and few would have even dared to predict that the pair would have added a handful of runs after India’s seamers had ripped England to pieces.

However, it soon became a day to say, ‘I was there when James Anderson recorded a career-best knock of 81’, as he and Root made a record-breaking 198 for the final wicket.’

For Root, it was an innings that extends a bright start to Test cricket. However, for Anderson, it meant so much more after a similarly determined innings against Sri Lanka ended with the Lancashire fast bowler falling to his knees in despair.

The contrast in emotions between the events against India and Sri Lanka, perhaps, outlines the mixture of fortunes at the highest level, but for a number eleven batsman to perform so tenaciously is surely a sign that England may be in sight of better times.

A maiden Test fifty for Anderson, 31, supported Root on his way to an unbeaten 154 in England’s first innings and their incredible partnership came almost one year after Phil Hughes and Ashton Agar had accomplished the previous record for the highest last-wicket stand, also at Trent Bridge.

It is, however, quite worrying to see captain Cook struggling for any kind of form with the bat, whilst the man who leads his bowling attack is showing just how easy it can be if you have that all important trait in your game, confidence.

India 1^st innings: 457 all out (161.0 overs) Murali Vijay 146, MS Dhoni 82.

England 1^st Innings: 496 all out (144.5 overs) Joe Root 154, James Anderson 81.

India 2^nd innings: 167/3 (48 overs) Cheteshwar Pujara 55, Murali Vijay 52.