Joe Root showed off his ability to play unconventional shots by hitting sixes with reverse scoops in the first Test against Australia in Birmingham after spending two months with Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2023.
On Day 4 of the first Ashes Test against Australia at Edgbaston, Birmingham, star batter Joe Root wowed the crowd with a sensational array of freak shots, leaving former England captain Kevin Pietersen in awe.
The way Root attempted reverse scoops as early as the first two over of the day demonstrated his intent as he came out to bat.
In the first delivery of the day, Joe Root attempted to reverse scoop Pat Cummins, the captain of Australia, but was unsuccessful. He still went ahead and carried out his plans despite that. He moved across the stumps and down the field to hit Scott Boland for a leg-side boundary.
To stop Root from skipping down the pitch, Australia brought wicketkeeper Alex Carey up to the stumps, but the former England captain found other ways to get boundaries.
He reverse-scooped Boland for a six that easily sailed past the boundary rope over the slip cordon. Root played the shot once more in the very next delivery, this time scooping the ball over the slip cordon to pick up a boundary.
In the opening session of the thrilling first Test on Day 4, Root sped to 46 before Nathan Lyon had him out for 46. The top English batter was outstumped for the first time in his career.
With his brain and his unmatched work ethic, Root can achieve anything. He could be thinking, “I have enough; I could swan around, get a hundred, watch everyone warm up the next morning, and play football with the lads.” He has played in 11,000 Tests. No, no. Root is out there seeking improvement every morning. Long may that continue. We are fortunate to witness a master,” Pietersen told Sky Sports, praising Root’s desire to score big.
Root started the Ashes 2023 series with his 30th century in a Test match, scoring 121 not out in the first inning. Root was prevented from going on and accumulating a higher score in the first innings when England declared at 393 for 8.
Root used reverse scoops from the start, hitting sixs in Birmingham against Pat Cummins and Scott Boland.
Kevin Pietersen made the observation that Root’s time with the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2023 may have influenced his willingness to play the risky shots.
Root spent two months with the Rajasthan team in IPL 2023 after winning an IPL contract for the first time, and then he took a flight to England for the Ashes.
Root played three games and scored 10 runs, but he spent a lot of time with players like Jos Buttler and others at the Royals, a team led by Kumar Sangakkara.
“Those shots would have been ingrained in his game in those two months in the IPL [with Rajasthan Royals,” said Pietersen.
As they increased their lead to 162 runs at lunch on Day 4, England was reduced to 155 for 5. Nathan Lyon defeated Harry Brook for England after Root left.
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