Spirits Cricket

Joe Root started his work in this year’s Ashes in an expected fashion as he thumped a cracking ton yesterday to help England post a substantial total on the board at the end of day 1 in the first Ashes test match being played in Cardiff.

He had had some nervy moments at the start though. In fact, he could have returned to the pavilion on zero if the Australian wicketkeeper, Brad Haddin, had held on to a catch diving to his right.

It was only the second ball that Root was facing in his innings. He tried to dig out a wide Yorker and got a leading edge.

The ball flew to Haddin at a good height, but, it was, by no means, an easy catch. He had to dive full stretch.

Those types of catches actually stick in the gloves, but, unluckily for Australia, it hit the hard part of the gloves and popped out.

Root counter attacked thereafter and took the attack to the Australian camp.

He was not afraid of playing the ball in the air.

Michael Clarke, as he naturally does, was on the attack with three slips, two gulleys, and backward point and there was no fielder back on the boundary square of the wicket on the off side.

Root took advantage of that and played some lofted cut shots whenever presented with a little bit of width.

His shots on the front foot were quite watchable too. (more…)

England might have had a very difficult time over the last few years, but, the selectors would be happy with the fact that during this period, they have found somebody who is going to be an absolute legend in a few years’ time.

Joe Root, the cheesy, little Yorkshire man, has been a great shining light for England recently.

After absolutely thumping the bowling attacks of India and Sri Lanka in the summer of 2014, Root carried on his form in limited-over Cricket too, doing fairly well in Sri Lanka and then, in Australia, both in the triangular and the World Cup.

And, now, he has had a similar start to the ongoing season as he scored a hundred on the first day of the first match of 3-test match series between England and West Indies.

He just does not get tired of scoring runs, Root and his temperament at this age is incredible.

In his short career so far, very rarely it has happened that he has tried to play an irresponsible shot at a crucial time and has got out.

He does not do that. He plays the situation every time and plays it very well. (more…)

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