England’s superstar Joe Root was delighted to finally contribute to the team after scoring an unbeaten knock of 122 runs in the first innings of the fourth Test match against India in Ranchi. Before the start of the penultimate Test, Root could only manage 77 runs in the first three Test matches at an average of 12.83 and thus he failed to deliver the goods for the visitors.
The veteran batter was dismissed while trying to play a big shot in the second innings at Vizag against Ravichandran Ashwin.
Similarly, Root was dismissed while trying to play a reverse scoop against Jasprit Bumrah in the first innings at Rajkot. Ergo, Root’s aggressive shot selection had come under scrutiny.
However, he was able to bat maturely and showed his class when England lost three early wickets on the opening day of the fourth Test. The visitors were 112-5 but Root batted at the top of his game to help his team get out of the hole. Root went on to score his 31st Test century and added crucial runs with the lower order.
Joe Root said while talking to the host broadcaster, “We had a good couple of days. That’s how I play every game really, play according to the situation and conditions (when asked if he made a conscious effort to play attritional cricket). It looks like the pitch will keep deteriorating. I must admit it did cross my mind (to play the reverse scoop when on 96) but it was not a great option as the wicket was keeping low unlike the previous wicket. I was desperate to get some runs for the guys and I was happy to do that today.”
When asked whether he felt offended when Ben Stokes used him to get change Shoaib Bashir’s bowling end changed, Root said, “I have used him (Stokes with the ball) a fair bit when I was captain and he can do the same with me.”
Meanwhile, Shoaib Bashir bowled brilliantly on the second day’s play as he returned with figures of 4-84, while bowling 31 overs on the bounce. Furthermore, Tom Hartley continued to impress as the left-arm orthodox spinner scalped two wickets. Root showered praise on the young spin duo.
Root concluded, “Seeing the two young spinners perform like that is encouraging for England cricket. I hadn’t seen much of him (Bashir) before this series but he is a great character and has a sense of humor, it was great to see him keep coming at the batters.”
At the end of the second day’s play, India were 219-7, in arrears to England’s total of 353 by 134 runs.
