Ashes: Rooting for Joe Root! Can England batter end his wait for a ton Down Under?
Eleven years ago, the late Martin Crowe, the cerebral Kiwi batting great, had prophesied in one of his columns that India's
Virat Kohli
, England's
Joe Root
, Australia's
Steve Smith
and New Zealand's
Kane Williamson
would take turns to be ranked the No.
1 Test batter across the next decade. The pioneer was right. All of them went on to hit sublime peaks in between navigating distressing troughs.
But Root, the youngest of the four, has, since the Pandemic, distanced himself from his illustrious peers and surged far ahead.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel.
SUBSCRIBE NOW!
In 66 Tests post Covid, Root has amassed 5944 runs with 22 hundreds at an average of 55.55. A batting reset during the forced break allowed Root the time and space to recalibrate his game and spot areas for improvement, especially against spin and short-pitched bowling.
Obsessed about where his hands, head and feet were, he quickly realised that run making and eliminating risk was what batting was about. Root noted that even if he was in the wrong position, he could benefit if good balls were kept out.
A quick call to former England skipper Nasser Hussain, who arranged for footage of his dismissals from the broadcasters to see if there was a pattern, helped him.
Poll
Will Joe Root finally score a century in Australia this November?
Yes, he will
No, he won't
The Covid break did different things to Root's peers.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
It's Genius for Learning Languages [See Why]
Talkpal AI
Undo
Williamson saw a rise in his numbers. In 25 Tests, he logged 2800 runs, averaging 66.66 with 12 hundreds between 2020 and 2025. Smith endured a struggle and saw a 10 percentile drop in his average. In 45 Tests, across 3250 runs, he slammed 10 hundreds, averaging 45.13. It was only Kohli who suffered a catastrophic collapse in his game post 2020. From averaging 62.15 between Jan 1, 2015 to Jan 1, 2020, a period in which he played 52 Tests, scored 4848 runs and reeled off 18 hundreds, including seven double tons — all as captain — Kohli could log just 1990 runs in the 37 Tests till the end of his career.
He added only three more tons more to his existing 27 and averaged just 32.09.
Root has maximised the 27-32 age period, a time zone where batters are meant to be at their peak, by shunning the lure of T20 franchise cricket. Probably not being in England's T20 set-up has also allowed him more time to recharge his batteries and maintain fitness. Note, Root has missed only two of the 158 Tests that he has played in. He was dropped once and was away on paternity leave for the other.
When he captained England with middling results, seeming like the weight of the world was on his shoulders, Root saw his batting average fall to 46.44. In the 'Bazball' era under Stokes and McCullum though, Root has rediscovered old peaks and old joy. With 3654 runs in 41 Tests at an average of 58 and 14 tons, he smiles more and snarls less. Unless you are named Prasidh Krishna!
When you watch Root from a distance, it is easy to miss him.
He does not have Kohli's swagger or his booming cover drive. He is not fidgety and restless like Smith. He does not have Williamson's pathological calm.
What Root has, though, is a method of scoring that he fully trusts. The clip off his hips to midwicket from off-stump, the steer across point that occasionally causes him grief on bouncy tracks, the efficient working of the ball into gaps that helps him rotate strike against spin.
The odd reverse sweep to put the bowler off. These are moments that may not make it into highlights packages. But they compound into runs and have helped Root move up rapidly on the table of 'G.O.A.T.S'.
These traits have also allowed him to drop anchor and carve out a fourth innings average of 113 in victorious Tests with two centuries. Can he correct the one gaping hole in his resume of not having a three-figure score Down Under, come Nov?
Another veteran in the autumn of his career — someone a young Root watched as he summoned Pragyan Ojha during practice at the Wankhede in Nov 2012 — had two tons in Australia while still in his teens. Root knows that any comparisons with the great
Sachin Tendulkar
, who he now trails by only 2,378 runs in the race for the highest run-getter in Tests, will be justified if and when he aces the Australia Test.
Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
'Our fans have now become ‘gumrah'' - Ex-India opener lambasts Jasprit Bumrah's critics
India's Jasprit Bumrah, middle, celebrates with teammates after the dismissal of during the third cricket test match between England and India at Lord's cricket ground in London, Friday, July 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Pelham) Former India opener Aakash Chopra didn't mince his words while addressing those criticising Jasprit Bumrah for playing only three Tests in the recently concluded Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. Bumrah featured in the first Test at Headingley, Leeds, followed by the third and fourth games at Lord's and Old Trafford, Manchester, respectively. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! In three matches, Bumrah picked up 14 wickets, including two five-wicket hauls, bowling 119.4 overs at an average of 26. He wasn't included in the playing XI for the fifth Test at The Oval and was subsequently released from the squad ahead of day two's play. Poll How do you feel about the way fans have treated Bumrah's performance lately? It's unfair and disrespectful He should perform better to avoid criticism 'There was talk about how India couldn't find a better captain than Jasprit Bumrah,' Chopra said on his YouTube channel. 'People were questioning why bowlers can't lead, especially since he was vice-captain under Rohit Sharma and had successfully captained the team in Perth. 'It started with praise, but now it's turned into trolling, with people saying the team loses when he plays and that he doesn't take full responsibility. 'From being 'Boom Boom Bumrah,' our fans have now become 'gumrah.' I'm surprised and saddened by this,' Chopra added. Chopra urged Indian fans to put some respect on Bumrah's name. 'We're talking about a once-in-a-generation talent, someone who is far superior to the rest. Currently, he is the top bowler in the world across all formats. "If Bumrah plays just three matches, so be it. If managing his workload means he can continue playing in key matches without breaking down, I'd do whatever is necessary to make that happen.' Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
News18
2 hours ago
- News18
Ricky Ponting Picks Top 5 Greatest Batters, Ignores Virat Kohli & Rohit Sharma
Last Updated: Ricky Ponting picks his top five greatest-ever batters. Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Steve Smith don't find a place. Two Indians made it to Ricky Ponting's list of the top five greatest-ever batters: Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. Ponting said that Brian Lara was the 'most skilful' one he ever played against, and followed it up by picking two modern, Fab Four choices: Joe Root and Kane Williamson. While Indian fans could be upset about not seeing Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma included, interestingly, no Australians (for example, Steve Smith) got into the former captain-turned-pundit's exclusive group either. While Tendulkar (34357) and Dravid (24208) retired as India's highest run-scorers, Lara is the greatest ever to come out of the West Indies, and Root and Williamson have been leading their teams' torches for years. 'Brian Lara was the most skilful batsman I played against and when I was captain, he gave me more sleepless nights than anybody," Ponting was quoted as saying by The Times. 'Sachin was technically as good as anyone I've seen, along with Rahul Dravid; I'd put Joe in there now as well, and Kane Williamson," he added. While Root's stats are obvious as the second-highest run-scorer in Tests, Ponting said someone like Ben Stokes is gauged more with big-game impact. 'Stokes is a hard one. Numbers don't define him. It's been about moments with him, he's a situation player. When things get toughest he's been at his best. When you're talking about the greats, you've got to talk about impact on games," he added. Ponting, separately, also picked Jaques Kallis as the greatest cricketer he had seen. 'Joe wasn't a great player for his first 11 games' Ponting also hailed Root's transformation from an inconsistent skillful player who couldn't convert most of his 50s to now a world-beater. 'What he's done the past five years is extraordinary. Look at the numbers: he's got 13,500 runs. I rank players on how long they can stay at the top of their powers. You can be a great player for 30 to 40 games but can you do it for 150 games? Joe probably wasn't a great player for his first 100 games — he had 17 hundreds in 97 Tests — but he's turned into a great player. He has got 21 hundreds in his past 60 games (before the Oval Test)," Ponting said. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
The steady evolution of Prasidh Krishna: Impressed at The Oval, but real test awaits in home conditions
Prasidh Krishna (AP Photo) The pacer put on a much-improved show at The Oval but his litmus test will come in home conditions later this year As Mohammed Siraj soaked in the applause and Shubman Gill became the toast of a nation, Prasidh Krishna appeared to slip quietly away from the spotlight, reflecting on his eight-wicket masterclass in India's nerve-wracking, series-levelling win against England at the Oval. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! It was a career-defining performance that could potentially earn him the rite of passage into India's elite pace group, alongside Jasprit Bumrah and Siraj. The England series was a baptism by fire for the 29-year-old Karnataka speedster. It began on a harrowing note, with Prasidh being guilty of spraying the ball all over the place and leaking one boundary every eight deliveries in the first three Tests of the high-octane series. Poll Do you believe Prasidh Krishna has established himself as a key player for India after his performance at The Oval? Yes, definitely No, he needs to prove more Maybe, let's see his performance in India Like most tall bowlers from the subcontinent, Prasidh tends to bowl short of a length and hits the deck hard in search of discomforting bounce. The flat tracks in England didn't help his cause, making him too predictable. 'In the initial tests in England, he struggled to hit the right lengths. He had pace but was way too short. This is why you saw England batters either pulling him or flicking him,' former India and Delhi pacer Sanjeev Sharma told TOI. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Most Beautiful Female Athletes Right Now Undo The team management, however, showed faith in and drafted him in for the crucial final Test. Prasidh justified the faith by playing a major role in India's win. Inside The Oval: An Exclusive Tour of the Stadium Where India Played the Final Test It wasn't easy for Prasidh personally — he had to go against the grain and reset some of his deeply-embedded muscle-memory patterns. 'In England, you need to pitch it up and bowl fuller in order to invite the batters to drive. Prasidh got those eight wickets at the Oval because he mixed his lengths cleverly. It was commendable because he is wired to bowl short of a length,' Sharma said. Anutosh A Poll, a former Karnataka team manager, is someone who has seen Prasidh since his formative years in the domestic circuit. Poll is, expectedly, chuffed at the pacer's evolution. 'I was amazed to see the way he bowled in England. Prasidh has grown in confidence and is part of the big league now. At the Oval, he was varying his lengths cleverly and not being predictable. The wickets of Jacob Bethell on Day 4 and Josh Tongue on the final day stood out for me,' Poll said. Boasting a high release point, combined with the ability to marry seam movement with bounce, makes Prasidh a wonderful proposition. Nevertheless, he needs to remain consistent and adapt to different conditions. Beyond his physical attributes, Prasidh also displayed commendable mental fortitude in England, especially after having spent months on the sidelines due to a series of stress fractures and quadricep tears. 'It remains to be seen how he performs in India and in the subcontinent, where conditions are not ideal for his style of bowling,' Sharma added. Indeed, going forward, how he performs in India will decide whether he can be an integral part of the team in all conditions. The home season later this year will be Prasidh's litmus test. Till then, let us savour his lion-hearted efforts at the Oval. PRASIDH'S HIGHS & LOWS IN ENGLAND 4/62 - Prasidh Krishna produced his best bowling performance in the first innings of the Oval Test. With another four-wicket haul in the second innings (4/126), he also recorded his best Test figures in a match (ER 4.37). 1 - Prasidh's 8/188 and Mohammed Siraj's 9/190 in the Oval Test was the first instance of two Indian fast bowlers bagging four wickets each in both innings of a Test. 6.4 - Prasidh's economy rate while conceding 128 runs and claiming three wickets off 20 overs in the first innings of the Leeds Test, the worst by an Indian bowler delivering 120 balls or more in a Test innings. The previous record belonged to Varun Aaron, who had an economy rate of 5.91 during his figures of 23-1-136-2 vs Australia in Adelaide in Dec 2014. Prasidh's match economy rate of 6.28 in the same Test (35-0-220-5) is the worst by any Indian bowler conceding 200-plus runs in a match. (Stats: Rajesh Kumar) Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
