Root gets first Lords century

Yorkshire's young cricket sensation Joe Root recorded his first hundred as a Test opener as England ground down Australia to pile up a mammoth lead of over 400 on the third afternoon of the second Investec Test at Lord's.

Root (103no) became the first batsman past 1,000 first-class runs this summer when he reached 70 on another day when nothing consented to go Australia's way.

England therefore consolidated their initial 233-run lead with a teatime 171 for four, which meant Australia must overturn all previous Test history at the home of cricket with a ground-record run chase if they are to level the series.

Root and nightwatchman , fellow YorkshiremanTim Bresnan began Australia's punishment in a stand of 99 which encompassed the morning and lasted almost into mid-afternoon.

The hosts stumbled against Peter Siddle to 31 for three yesterday, but had already opened up what seemed sure to be a decisive mid-match advantage - which they extended at their leisure today.

Root and Bresnan shut Australia out on a cloudy morning. Bresnan needed 30 balls to get off the mark, with an unconvincing pull for a single off James Pattinson, but he added boundaries through midwicket and cover after Michael Clarke replaced Siddle with Harris from the pavilion end.

Root, who had a significant moment of fortune on eight yesterday when he edged Shane Watson between wicketkeeper and slip, was never in any hurry but did move past his half-century before lunch.

The afternoon saw more of the same from the two Yorkshiremen until Bresnan failed to get on top of a pull off James Pattinson and was caught at midwicket.

Root was joined by Bell for more slow torture of the bowlers, and by the end of the second session the young Yorkshireman had faced 237 balls in what was already his breakthrough innings at the top of the order.

When Root returned to the crease after tea , on 97 not out, he inched his way to his century - finally getting it with a boundary through the covers.