Tags: England tour of India 2024,
India,
England,
India vs England 3rd Test at Rajkot, Feb 15-19, 2024,
Joseph Edward Root,
Nasser Hussain
Published on: Feb 17, 2024
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Amid massive criticism over his failures in the ongoing Test series against India due to his Bazball-related approach, former England captain Nasser Hussain has backed Joe Root to come good soon.
Root was dismissed for 18 on Day 3 of the Rajkot Test against India on Saturday, February 17. He tried to reverse ramp Jasprit Bumrah, but mistimed the ball and gave a catch to Yashasvi Jaiswal at second slip. With the wicket, the former England captain’s poor run in the series continued.
That’s not all. On Saturday, his dismissal sparked a shocking batting collapse that saw England crumble from 224/2 to 319. England legends Michael Vaughan and Alastair Cook questioned Root’s approach and wondered whether he would be better off playing normal cricket. Hussain, however, backed Root to come good without changing his approach towards batting.
“After the first two Tests against India, we said that Root might not be suited to Bazball. But the stats say otherwise. He averages 51 under this regime and he averaged 49 before that. His dismissal sort of sums up where we are with Bazball. It will thrill and frustrate in equal measure,” Hussain said on Sky Sports after the end of the third day’s play.
“When he is playing those reverse-scoops to the first ball of the day of an Ashes Test, we all jump up and applaud. When he does it to Bumrah here and gets out, we all say ‘what a disgrace’,” Hussain went on to add.
Hussain, however, admitted that the timing of Root’s reverse scoop was questionable. “One thing Joe will look at is the timing of that shot. Ashwin wasn’t there, India are down a bowler; Jadeja is playing off the back of an injury; Bumrah is playing three Tests in a row and there is talk of him needing a rest,” he commented.
“Bazball is about being attacking but it is also about soaking up pressure. Get Bumrah into his second or third spell, take it deep and then play the shot later in the day. Joe will assess his dismissal himself. That’s what makes him a great player. He’ll come back. He’ll be absolutely fine,” Hussain added.
After bowling out England for 319, India responded with 196/2. Yashasvi Jaiswal scored 104 before retiring hurt, while Shubman Gill was unbeaten on 65. India went to stumps on Day 3 with a significant lead of 322.
–By A Cricket Correspondent
