Joe Root – England’s rejuvenated skipper India need to be wary of
While the citizens of the UK might be living the wretchedest of lives because of the obnoxious ramifications caused by the pandemic. At least, this England side has been moulding some history on their busiest of cricketing calendars.
Although the inferiority of this Sri Lankan side might cut some slack, England’s six consecutive Test wins in Sri Lanka has now become the second-best for them in any country. The 6-match winning streak which had begun in 2012, also further exemplifies the most wins by a non-Asian team in Asia.
Now regardless of some incongruous feats being achieved by the English bowling (first ten wickets by seamers and the last ten by spinners) in the second Test, skipper Root’s adroitness has been the centre mark which single-handedly swayed the Sri Lankans.
By getting refrained from the three-figure mark in the entire 2020 and alongside getting slipped out of the top 10 rankings to now on the flip side, amassing a tally of 426 runs. Not only there’s a rejuvenation in Root’s batting, but also a sense of ruthlessness, especially when it comes to converting those exquisite fifties into portentous hundreds.
Joe Root had a phenomenal series, scoring 426 runs @ 106.5, with a highest score of 228.
With England heading to India shortly, Root in this kind of form will be very interesting. #SLvENG #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/ZOvshEpsEZ
— ThePoppingCrease (@PoppingCreaseSA) January 25, 2021
Statistically, apart from becoming the second-highest run-scorer for England now in a two or fewer match Test series, Root at present is now England’s fourth-highest run-scorer of all time. In addition to that, his 426 runs out of 980 runs scored by all English batters accounts for more than 44 % of the runs scored by him.
A bona fide technique
While the young lad back in 2012, had exerted his piercing technique against spin, by playing a 229 ball 73 in his debut innings at Nagpur, Root’s probe against the turning ball has been jaunty. Firstly, he has a standard stance (low and open) which flawlessly allows him to go back and forth. Secondly, to combat bounce and to prevent getting squared, both his hips and hands get directly aligned with his shoulders allowing him to epitomize a straight bat face.
? Joe Root is named the player of the series ?
Runs: 426
Average: 106.50
High score: 228
Strike-rate: 65.63
Hundreds: 2Picked up a couple of wickets as well! ☝️☝️#SLvENG pic.twitter.com/uild3DhYyV
— The Cricketer (@TheCricketerMag) January 25, 2021
Both of his majestic hundreds (228 & 186) had signified his mastery of using the sweep shot. While the English batters are now a class above when it comes executing the skill of reverse-sweep. Rooty can hit you on both sides of the wicket. Whether it’s in front of the square or backwards. Such shrewd exhibition not only allows him to play with the field but also prevents the attacking spinner from getting settled.
Irrefutably, both those match-winning tons have liberated Root’s mindset of being hungry. The duo of hundreds has been notched at a stirring strike rate of 71.03 and 60.19. Not to forget his early arrival at the crease which often embellishes a visiting batsman (non-Asian) to completely go out for a block rather than looking for opportunities to score.
All in all, before this Sri Lankan tour, what Root might have brought with himself must have been some vigorous determination. But with an abundance of runs in his pocket an adolescent face now does look like a sturdy exponent who might show the tenacity to pile up runs against the nimble Indian bowling attack.
