Nick Compton Reckons England Are Over Reliant On The Pair Of Batsmen Joe Root And Ben Stokes

Mar 19, 2022 at 3:44 PM

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Nick Compton Reckons England Are Over Reliant On The Pair Of Batsmen Joe Root And Ben Stokes

Nick Compton believes that the England side is over-reliant on the two-Joe Root and Ben Stokes, following the end of the second day of the ongoing 2nd  Test. The cricket fraternity lauded Joe Root and Ben Stokes for their excellent contributions with the bat after both hit tons to put England in command in the ongoing 2nd Test against a relatively inexperienced and inferior bowling attack of West Indies.

Former England batter Nick Compton said that England are instilling a new culture and it will take time to settle in when he was asked if that is the case during a conversation. England produced a brilliant performance with the bat in the first innings of the second Test against West Indies.

Ben Stokes, Joe Root ECB Twitter
Ben Stokes, Joe Root ECB Twitter

Nick Compton Reckons England Are Over Reliant On Joe Root And Ben Stokes

England captain Joe Root scored a magnificent 153 off 316 balls, while all-rounder Ben Stokes slammed a quickfire 120 off just 128 deliveries as England declared their first innings on a staggering 507/9.

“Yeah, potentially. It has probably been the case for a while now,” said Compton on being asked if England are “in danger of having too much reliance” on Stokes and Root. 

“England are trying to instill a new culture post the Ashes. They are trying to create new habits. They’ve scored three 300s in a row; in terms of batting, they’ve taken that opportunity.”

Nick Compton (Image Credit: Cricfit)
Nick Compton (Image Credit: Cricfit)

“Okay, let’s be honest, the West Indies are not the most penetrating bowling attack but it takes time to build these new habits. It’s good that these guys like Joe Root are continuing to show their excellence. Joe is just a fantastic player in all conditions. He leads from the front. Yes, we do need the players to come through and they will come through.”

Kraigg Brathwaite and Jermaine Blackwood hits superb centuries to help West Indies end Day 3 of the 2nd Test against England at 288/4 at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados.

Nick Compton Praised England Opener Alex Lees Who Debuted In The Ongoing Test Series Against West Indies

Nick Compton also lauded Alex Lees, who scored a slow 30 off 138 deliveries at a strike rate of only 21.74 while opening the innings with Zak Crawley, who was dismissed on a 7 balls duck.

“The likes of Alex Lees, yes he’s only got 30, but it shows the importance of complementary skills. He wore down the new bowlers and gave opportunity to Root to play in a more free-flowing way,” said Nick Compton.

Alex Lees scored very slowly for England with the debate over his scoring livelier than the play @Action Images via Reuters
Alex Lees scored very slowly for England with the debate over his scoring livelier than the play @Action Images via Reuters

Alex Lees, who had batted in a watchful manner for 30 off 137 deliveries, went on the backfoot to try and flick a delivery, only to miss it completely to get dismissed leg before wicket plumb in front off Veerasammy Permaul, who picked 3 scalps.

England’s most incisive seamer, as usual in this series, was Ben Stokes, who picked 1st Test’s hero batsman Nkrumah Bonner. Jack Leach worked hard (44-14-97-1) while Dan Lawrence, surely under-used, did well to pop up with a wicket in the evening shadows (Jermaine Blackwood) as he returned with figures of 1/8 in 5 overs. Debutant Matthew Fisher too picked up the wicket of opener John Campbell.

West Indies 288 for 4 (Brathwaite 109*, Jermaine Blackwood 102, Joseph 4*, Dan Lawrence 1/8) trail England 507 for 9 declared (Joe Root 153, Ben Stokes 120; Veerasammy Permaul 3/126) by 219 runs

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