Joe Root, England Test captain has said that playing some 50-over cricket before the series against India has helped him gain rhythm back in his batting.
India bundled out England on 303 in the third session on Day 4 after Joe Root’s classy ton in the second innings. Joe Root played an all-important innings before India fought back as Jasprit Bumrah picked five wickets. It was Jasprit Bumrah’s second five-wicket haul at Trent Bridge. England has set a target of 209 for India and removed KL Rahul before stumps on Day 4.
Joe Root Felt Good To Get A Big Score And To Give England A Chance To Win
Stuart Broad struck to remove KL Rahul as India lost one wicket before Stumps to finish on 52/1, needing 157 runs to win on the final day. Joe Root got his 21st Test hundred with a straight drive for four off Shardul Thakur in the third session and broke into ecstatic celebrations. India posted 278 runs in the first innings in response to England’s 183, taking a lead of 95 runs.
“There has been a lot to handle. But it is important you find ways to handle that. You can let it weigh you down but you have to find solutions. It’s about trying to deal with what’s in front of you and not letting anything overwhelm you.”
“This morning I said to myself and to the group: just remember what is fun about cricket. It might be tough sometimes, it might be hard, but it’s fun. And it’s really important we all embrace that,” said Root during a virtual press conference held at the end of Day 4.
“Whatever the situation, whatever the conditions, and wherever you are in your own game, it’s important you go out there, enjoy the moment, and make the most of it. It felt pretty good to get a big score and get us into position to give us a chance of winning this Test,” he added.
England might have removed opening batsman KL Rahul in the final half-hour of the play but India needs just 157 runs to win the first Test on Sunday. India scored 52 runs after bundling out England in the third session. The visitors got off to a cautious start but eventually lost KL Rahul as Stuart Broad bowled an absolute peach of a delivery to dismiss the Indian batsman. KL Rahul had top-scored for India in the 1st innings, scoring 84.
Joe Root Benefitted From Playing White Ball Cricket
Joe Root referred to the series against Sri Lanka in June-July where he returned with unbeaten knocks of 68 and 79, saying he benefitted from playing limited-overs white-ball cricket. Joe Root was the leading scorer in the 3 ODIs as only he and Sri Lankan all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga managed to score 100 runs and above in the series.
“I’ve actually felt a real benefit from playing some white-ball cricket. I know it would be nice to have some red-ball cricket coming into this game but, from my point of view, playing 50-over cricket gave me some rhythm back in my batting,” said Root.
“I felt I got forward and back better. I was standing a lot taller a lot earlier, picking my bat up a lot earlier, I feel like I have got the rhythm back in my hands. I find 50-over cricket can be a massive help to my red-ball game,” he added.
Talking about the match situation, Root said: “I think as always you want more runs to play with, you have seen in this game, that cluster of wickets have fallen. We need to make those runs last as long as possible and we have to be good on the field. We need to take our chances, the belief will be there.”
Before the recent lean patch, Joe Root had scored two double centuries in three matches, including the 218 in the Chennai Test as he became the first to surpass the 1,000-mark this calendar year. He now has 1,064 Test runs in 2021.
Joe Root, who had failed to reach half-century in his last five Tests, ended up scoring 64 in the first innings and then came up with a masterful 109 helping England put up a much-improved batting show in their 2nd innings.