'He will regret that' - England cricketer Joe Root feels wrath of former players after India win second Test

'He will regret that' - England cricketer Joe Root feels wrath of former players after India win second Test

WATCH NOW: Sports round-up as England suffer defeat against India

Lewis Winter

By Lewis Winter


Published: 05/02/2024

- 16:38

The Yorkshire batter's struggles continued on day four in Vizag

Joe Root has been singled out for criticism after his 'reckless' dismissal in the second innings of the defeat to India.

England were beaten by 106 runs in the second Test in Vizag on Monday, falling short of what would have been a record-breaking chase.


The tourists were set an unlikely target of 399 after bowling out India for 255 on Sunday and began day four on 67-1.

They needed at least one of their batters to hit a big century and there was hope that Root could find form and prove the difference.

Joe Root

Joe Root has received criticism after England lost to India in the second Test

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But the former skipper was unusually skittish and was clearly trying to live up to the aggressive 'Bazball' style Ben Stokes' team have adopted over the last two years.

Root reached 16 before he attempted an ungainly hoick over the legside, only managing to spoon a Ravi Ashwin delivery to Axar Patel at backward point.

He has now scored just 52 runs across his four innings in the series so far and is struggling to find the right tempo to bat.

Ex-England captain Alastair Cook played alongside Root for six years and believes he has fallen foul of the attacking mindset.

Cook said on TNT Sports: "He’s England’s best batsman there’s ever been in all formats – but he does struggle sometimes with the tempo of this Bazball era.

"He sees all these other people playing these aggressive shots, which suit their style.

"Rooty has got 11,500 Test runs, he’s brilliant, but he’s so desperate to fit into what Ben and Brendon [McCullum] are doing that sometimes I don’t think he gets his balance of attack and defence right.

"He was on 16 off nine balls and he doesn’t normally strike at that rate – he’s normally striking at 75 to 80, which is still incredibly high for a Test match strike-rate, with zero risk.

"That’s when I love watching Joe Root bat. When he gets in, you call it early – I’ve called it early a few times on sub-continent days: he’s on 15 but he’s getting a hundred here.

"He’s going to milk them at his will, sweeps, all in control. I don’t think today he was in that control."

Meanwhile, former England bowler Darren Gough described Root's dismissal on day four as 'reckless' and says he will regret how he got out.

Gough said on talkSPORT: "What Bazball is supposed to be about is playing your natural game. But to add to it, to play with freedom.

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Joe Root

Joe Root berated himself after the England batter got out against India

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"Don’t be afraid to play your natural game in the middle, like you would be in the nets.

"That was just reckless from one of the top three batters in the world. He will regret that."

Root has been struggling with a finger injury sustained during India's second innings.

It limited the number of overs he was able to bowl but he was fit to bat, coming in a place below his usual No 4 spot due to Rehan Ahmed being used as nightwatchman late on Sunday.

Joe Root

Joe Root got out to an ugly hack in England's second innings against India

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Former England opener Geoffrey Boycott says Root is playing out of his comfort zone.

He told the Telegraph: "Bazball cost Joe Root his wicket. As soon as he came in, he was dancing down the pitch trying to hit over the top and very soon swiped it up in the air. He only scored 16.

"England’s best technical batsman is normally a busy player who scores at a good rate, but trying to go after the bowling as soon as he comes in takes him out of his comfort zone."

There is now a break before England will look to bounce back in the third Test in Rajkot on February 15.

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