Joe Root: Yorkshire and England batter falls four short of century in first County Championship appearance of 2026

Joe Root quickly found form on his first appearance of the summer for Yorkshire duty, but fell four short of a century on day three of their County Championship clash with Sussex at Headingley.

After the visitors racked up 502 in their first innings, Yorkshire needed big runs in reply and Root played his part with 96 in his first outing since the Ashes tour of Australia.

Root was ultimately undone just shy of a 56th first-class hundred, a little extra lift from a Henry Crocombe (3-107) delivery found the edge through to the wicketkeeper.

Australian import Sam Whiteman (101) did reach three figures, following in the footsteps of Finlay Bean (105) from day two, but Jonny Bairstow could only manage six before being bowled by James Coles (3-138).

Yorkshire finished with a single-figure lead after making 511, then nipped out both Sussex openers as the visitors closed on 31-2 in their second innings.