England Test captain Joe Root has fulfilled the second spinner’s role to perfection on day 2 of the Pink-Ball Test in Motera stadium. He took a wicket of the very first delivery of his spell to dismiss Rishabh Pant. He then struck twice more to dismiss Washington Sundar and Axar Patel as India lost five wickets in the first session for just 26 runs. India started the day on 99 for 3 and lost five wickets in a space of seven overs. Root then also dismissed Ravichandran Ashwin for 17 to add to India’s miseries.
After he got the edge of Pant to dismiss him, the ball which dismissed Washington Sundar turned sharply and beat the bat of Sundar. Joe Root thus was over the moon after the quick wickets he took for his team. Root is getting enough help from the wickets to keep the Indian lower-order guessing.
Meanwhile, former England skipper Michael Vaughan took a jibe at the Indian batting line-up after Root took four quick wickets to leave India tottering.
“Indian batsman can’t play off spinners from Yorkshire !! #INDvENG” wrote Vaughan on Twitter.
Michael Vaughan Takes a Dig At Indian Batting Line-Up AFter Joe Root Takes Five Wickets
Indian batsman can’t play off spinners from Yorkshire !! 😜 #INDvENG
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 25, 2021
India started day 2 on 99 for 3 and have lost seven wickets inside the first session for just 45 runs and struggling to put up a big score. The pitch has shown signs of turn right from the first session of the first day.
Meanwhile, Joe Root introducing himself into the attack turned out to be a masterstroke and has paid off beautifully for his team. He ended with five wickets as India were bowled out for 145 inside the first session. He took five for 8 and in the process registered his best bowling figures in Test cricket.
England skipper Joe Root was not a happy man after the end of the day’s play on day 1 of the Pink-Ball Test. A couple of key decisions went against them in which the third umpire Shamshuddin had a role to play. India ended day one on 99 for 3 when they could have easily been five down had right decisions being made. Post the day’s end Root with England coach Chris Silverwood spoke to the ICC match referee, Srinath after seeing two decisions going India’s way without the third umpire giving enough time and attention in the case of Rohit Sharma’s stumping appeal.
Joe Root was questioning the umpire at the bowlers end as and asking for transparency and consistency in decisions despite the umpires having all the luxury to make proper decisions.
Also Read: Watch: Joe Root Castles Washington Sundar With A Beauty On Day 2 Of Pink-Ball Test