His team may be 1-0 down in the Ashes, but as an individual Joe Root is back on top of the world right now.
England's talisman with the bat was one of the shining lights of their thrilling two-wicket defeat at Edgbaston, hitting a majestic 118 not out on the opening day. Indeed, he would arguably have scored much higher, were it not for the much debated call of captain Ben Stokes to declare on 393-8.
He was flowing nicely in the second innings too, on 46 after a series of audacious ramp shots. His dismissal, stumped as he looked to launch an attack on Aussie spinner Nathan Lyon, proved a critical point in curtailing the hosts as they tried to set a big total.
