Batter’s questionable shot selection contributed to the collapse in India as rot set in and team’s promising position was lost
The rot started with Root. It happened just five overs into the day on the third morning at a sun soaked Niranjan Shah Cricket Stadium. The moment that made bleary-eyed England fans who had set their Saturday morning alarms with the promise of more high-octane Stokesian shenanigans groan into their muesli. In fact, it was probably still too early for sustenance. At 4.22am UK time, a little before 10am locally, Joe Root – the prince of modern English batting – hopped impishly in his crease and attempted a reverse scoop to Jasprit Bumrah.
You’ll likely know the shot, you probably giggled with glee as Root unfurled it against the skiddy pace of Naseem Shah or the sinew-straining bumpers of Neil Wagner. Sat in slack-jawed bemusement when he attempted it against Pat Cummins to the first ball of a day’s play in the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston last summer or yelped with delight when he later successfully nailed it off Mitch Marsh and Scott Boland.
Written by James Wallace
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/feb/17/england-cricket-india-third-test-joe-root-reverse-scoop under the title “Root’s reverse scoop gamble backfires to spark tumble of England wickets | James Wallace”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
