JOE ROOT-EPITOMY OF DOGGEDNESS AND TENACITY

Test Matches these days usually end up with a result, more often than not, inside four days. A far cry from the era where most of the tests used to result in a draw. Cricket experts say that one of the reasons for this is that the batsmen generally play in the T20 mold these days; doggedness, persistence, tenacity that should be the fundamental attributes are generally missing in the modern day batsman. Joe Root is one of the few exceptions to that.

He is a player of the Rahul Dravid school of cricket, dogged in defense, sure in attack and calm under pressure. He has vindicated the name he’s got, because in spite of all the success he has achieved, he has always stayed “rooted” to the ground. In this attribute, he resembles The Wall himself. Not enough can be said about his 180 at Lord’s. England were staring down the barrel at 30-3, in danger of letting the game slip out of their control. Root then unleashed his full force hitting a commanding ton. His strokes through the off side were masterly, reminding one of Saurav Ganguly.

In December last year, he made a tenacious 73 from 229 balls on his debut on a wicket which was would very well be an English batsman’s nightmare. In doing that he rescued England when they had their back against the walls.

It is not just about his batting that is earning him praises; his bowling has also come in more than handy. In the 2nd test at Lord’s he took the wickets of Michael Clarke and Khawaja at a crucial juncture in the game when he and Khawaja were slowly building up a partnership. In his debut ODI match at Rajkot, he supported full time spinner Tredwell ably by bowling nagging lines and putting pressure on the Indian batsmen, who are experts at playing spin bowling. This is a proof of his dogged approach even in bowling.

England’s batting coach and former coach Graham Gooch has said that Root is not affected by the praises that have been showered upon him, he also has hailed his dogged approach to batting. Root is not a man of too many words, during interviews he appears really calm and composed. He likes to let his actions do the talking as was evident when he played down the duel with Warner. Let’s hope his insatiable hunger for runs keeps him improving and he vindicates the predicaments made by his contemporaries.