Former captain Michael Vaughan says Joe Root is England’s greatest batter after hitting a record 34th Test century for his country.

Root, 33, surpassed Sir Alastair Cook’s tally of 33 Test tons with his second century of the match in the second Test against Sri Lanka at Lord’s.

The right-hander is also just 96 runs from eclipsing Cook’s record of 12,472 Test runs for England.

“It’s not been through crash, bang, wallop,” said Vaughan, of Root’s technique. “It’s been through pure technique and ability.

“He is the greatest because he’s a wonderful role model as well. He’s a fantastic person and a great player.”

After scoring 143 in England’s first innings against Sri Lanka, Root made a sublime 103 in the second innings to spark the hosts’ push for victory, with Sri Lanka set a record 483 to win before they closed day three on 53-2.

Only six batters have scored more Test runs than Root, with just one – Australia’s Ricky Ponting – having a better strike-rate.

It is that ability to score so easily that marks Root out, according to Vaughan.

“The opposition pretty much always have to have four fielders behind square on the off side because he’s just so good,” Vaughan told BBC Test Match Special.

“You take away four fielders and all of a sudden there are gaps everywhere else.

“He’s just playing normally, rotating the strike without taking any risk. How often do you look up and he has scored 25 in no time at all?”

Cook, who was England captain when Root made his debut in 2012, has seen many of the records he set in his own career taken by the Yorkshire batter, who is averaging 60 in 2024.

“I don’t think anyone else has got that inevitability about him when he gets in that he’s going to score runs and make it look as easy as he does,” said Cook.

“There have been some really elegant England batsmen over our time – the likes of Michael Vaughan and Ian Bell.

“But Root just seems to be way above that level.”

Root has scored centuries against seven different countries, including 10 against India and four against Australia, but never down under.

“The only thing that’s missing in his game is that big hundred in Australia,” added Vaughan.

“But I can’t imagine he won’t get three figures in the Ashes next year in Australia.”

Root said there is “still a lot of work to do” in his career.

“It will be nice to have bragging rights when having a beer with Cooky,” he told Test Match Special.

“I want to play for longer, I feel like I have a long way to go.”

Speaking to BBC Sport, Root added: “It was very special to be able to share it with my family.

“I was able to see my dad on the stairs on the way up. It is nice to have times like that.”