This article was originally crafted by me on 09-10-2023. Reposted for archival purposes.
Unorthodox and innovative shots are usually eye-catching and a treat to watch. We have seen the likes of many cricketers who are known for capturing the attention of the crowd by either cheekily scooping the ball over the keeper’s head or clearing the field by playing a switch hit over deep cover. But, standing out with both innovative and copybook shots is not every batsman’s cup of tea. Such talent is only seen possessed by stellar cricketers such as Joseph Edward Root. The special aspect is he even brings this shot to the arena of test cricket, where batters try to be composed instead of daring.
Joe Root has proven long back that he is not merely test cricket material by averaging over 50 in ODI’s. But the interesting thing is, his stats are so promising in tests that they portend sensations. At the age of 32, Joe is already at Alastair Cook’s doorstep with 11,416 runs. 1057 more runs will make him the highest run scorer for England in test cricket. The noteworthy part is, he is just 32 and he secured 412 runs in the Ashes 2023 by persisting with his fine form. Mind you, he will overthrow Sachin Tendulkar with 4887 more runs.
Among the current Fab 4 batters in test cricket Rooty is the youngest and the lead contender for most runs. It is evident that Steve Smith is unmatched among the four but the age factor remains an unavoidable barrier for him. When the likely time left in career is considered, Joe has a promising advantage from the others. Almost 11500 test runs at an age of 32 is nothing short of sensational.
Whenever he sets foot in the crease, the crowd are in for a treat. We will witness the mixture of elegant textbook cover drives and nonchalant reverse scoops which even captivates the opposition. If we take a close look at one of the Ashes tests in 2023, we can see Pat Cummins expressing a face of both admiration and defeat, when Joe effortlessly puts him away over the ropes of third man. The latter scored a scintillating 118 from 152 from that match and also displayed his prowess to accelerate the game.
It will be a sight to behold if the man dethrones Sachin from the top. Let’s see from his upcoming days.
