imageLONDON: Stuart Broad believes England team-mate Joe Root is the "most complete batsman" he has played alongside.

Root's commanding and career-best 254 against Pakistan in the second Test at Old Trafford laid the platform for a mammoth 330-run win that saw England square the four-match series at 1-1 heading into Wednesday's third Test at Edgbaston.

The Yorkshireman is unusual in the present England set-up in being a key player in all three international formats -- Tests, one-day internationals and Twenty20s.

"I think Joe's probably the all-round, complete player," said Broad, speaking at an event staged by series sponsors Investec.

"I think in 10 years' time there's no doubt we'll be sat with a glass of red saying, 'Wow, I'm lucky to have played with that Root fella -- look at his record in all formats'," the England paceman added.

"If I had to pick two batsmen to bat for my life, I'd pick Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott, but I think Joe is probably the most complete batsman I've ever played with," added Broad.

"He has fewer weaknesses -- he's a fantastic player of spin, a good player of the short ball, a good player of quick bowling.

"He is a brilliant team-man in the way he plays and he's got every tempo and every shot in the book."

Broad added: "He's a very rounded guy and I know he'll be desperately hungry to get another big score next week."

After a relatively lean start to the summer, Root's double century in Manchester saw him deliberately avoid certain strokes.

"For him to rein in his shots slightly and just say, 'I'm going to bat big', was a great example of how to put the team first," said Broad.

"He knew that first-innings runs were going to be vital at Old Trafford and he did it in a no-risk way.

"I think that was one of the best knocks I've seen for England."

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2016

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