Credit: England Cricket
England veteran Joe Root has looked disciplined with his bat against Team India on the first day of the third Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar getting played at Lord’s in Lodnon. After the early departure of England openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley, England needed a partnership to make a comeback in the match. With the hosts reeling on 43/2, Root stepped up in the crunch situation and utilised his experience to create pressure on bowlers. He stitched a crucial 109-run stand with the top-order batter Ollie Pope. Instead of playing in their famous Bazball style, Root tested Team India bowlers’ patience and consumed 102 deliveries to score his 67th red-ball fifty.
Earlier, Nitish Kumar Reddy grabbed the scalps of Duckett and Crawley in his first over and handed the command over the game to India. Root, who holds magnificent batting numbers at this venue, was in pursuit of a fine knock and he didn’t disappoint his team and supporters. After racking up his half-century, he equalled the record of his side's former batters Alec Stewart, Ian Bell, and David Gower, who have scored eight fifties on this ground.
India need to stop Joe Root to assert dominance early in Lord's Test
Noting Joe Root settled at the crease, India are required to get rid of the veteran as his time at the crease could really pain the visitors. India haven't forgotten how Root took India’s bowling unit to the cleaners in 2021 on this ground and hammered an unbeaten 180. Following that innings, the 34-year-old’s batting numbers have got better at this venue.
Root has already scored eight Test hundreds on this ground and he will look to add one more to help his team erect a massive total in the first innings. Noting this scenario, India captain Shubman Gill will want his bowlers to showcase their mettle and get the better of the veteran.
