Runs weren’t coming in India. The conditions, of course, were absolutely alien to what he finds at home, here in England. At the back of a poor series, the English captain managed no more than 368 runs, which according to his dauntingly high standards weren’t all that great.
How?
After getting off to a flier, a ballsy double hundred yielded 218 at the MA Chidambaram stadium, Joe Root managed scores of 40, 6, 33, 17, 19, and 5 and 30 in the end.
Not a single fifty. Yet, thanks to his stellar first test efforts, the right hander left Indian shores with a Test series average of 46. But at the back of a horrid series loss to Virat Kohli and team
Right now, a batsman being described as one who’s in the form of his life, Joe Root has already managed 3 centuries.
What’s more? That’s 1 in each Test- starting with Trent Bridge, Lord’s and Headingley, Joe Root has already bettered what he managed from several Tests in India, his run accumulation spree suggesting 386 runs.
What’s more?
There are 2 more Tests to go in the series and where the current battlefield stands, then an effort that produced 121 scintillating runs, all of which could destroy India’s hopes of going even up in the series after a breathtaking result at Lord’s.
But while India held the upperhand at the famous cricketing venue, it was Joe Root who lorded at Lord’s thanks to a special, indefatigable 180 run unbeaten knock.
Moreover the premier English willower has already faced no fewer than 826 deliveries in the series.
How many deliveries did India’s entire playing eleven lasted for in the 1st inning?
244. While in making his latest three-figure-score, captain Root, faced 165 deliveries on his own, which happen to be nearly 28 overs on his own.
In a game which is ridiculously written by stats and frequently punctuated by numbers and analysis, the only analysis that Joe Root’s counterparts need to do is to figure a way out to dislodge the nemesis from the ground.
The problem is- it’s not happening.
Moreover, the thing is, England’s captain- who recently posted in excess of 9,000 Test runs, along with 23 centuries- is peaking at the right time. Well, not so right for India, but ideal for his English team.
What must be duly credited but perhaps isn’t is the very fact that Root is mauling all Indian bowlers despite having no support from premier exponents in red-ball cricket.
Think Broad, don’t forget Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer. Even Mark Wood was ruled out from this ongoing Test.
Not that it affected the tall Yorkshireman, the great nadir of Team India one bit!