[PICTURES/VIDEOS] Joe Root - following his career trajectory

[James]

Root seems to be in the purplest of purple patches at the moment, absolutely at the peak of his powers as an individual batsman and accumulator of runs. He may well break a few records this year.

 

[Ab Fan]

Arguably one of the greatest purple patches in my opinion because he is doing it while playing vs top teams and not getting to feast on Bangladesh or Zimbabwe.

 

[therealAB]

Didn't see Root having a year like this in him. The series vs Australia will be a true test - which he be able to make a series defining contribution, as well as finally score a hundred in Australia

 

[Last Monetarist]

 

[OMB]

'Not easy to perform after receiving kind of criticism he did for his captaincy at Lord's': Zaheer Khan lauds Joe Root

While analyzing the second day of the third Test at Headingley, Leeds, Zaheer said that it was important for Root to inspire his team after losing the Lord's Test and he did exactly that.

Simply put, Joe Root was at it again. The England skipper smashed his third century of the series, in as many matches, and sixth of the season to help England post 432/8 at Stumps on Day 2 and the hosts extended their lead to a whopping 345 runs. He looked comfortable from the get-go and played his shots freely. Former India bowler Zaheer Khan remarked that Root proved his mettle yet again.

While analyzing the second day of the third Test at Headingley, Leeds, Zaheer said that it was important for Root to inspire his team after losing the Lord's Test and he did exactly that.

"It is very important for a leader, especially when his team is down and trailing, to motivate his teammates, inspire them to play good cricket, and come back in the series. So, Root showed all these qualities and also showed his vigor," Zaheer said during a discussion on Cricbuzz.

Root copped heavy flak for his tactical failure on the final day of the second Test which resulted in India's victory. Zaheer further added that he was impressed with the way Root bounced back and did not let the criticism affect his batting, something that can easily happen.

"It is not easy (to perform like this) after receiving the kind of criticism he received for his captaincy after the Lord's Test. He used the break very well and maintained his form with the bat. Sometimes, when this sort of a thing happens (criticism after Lord's Test), it affects your batting too. Instead, he polished his batting further.

"The way the match started and the first day played out and the way (James) Anderson and the bowlers performed so well to bundle out India cheaply, he would have definitely benefitted from it. Let's not forget the opening stand. In this innings, he batted more freely and was playing his shots more often. The fact that he is well-versed with this ground was also an added advantage," explained Zaheer.

Culminating his point, Zaheer made an interesting observation about why the English skipper was able to play his shots freely and score runs thick and fast.

"It looked like he had made up his mind that he will be positive and play his shots because he hadn't come out to bat in such circumstances earlier. He had to curb his instincts, absorb the pressure and play accordingly till now. So, he would definitely have enjoyed this on the back of great form and a great platform," opined Zaheer.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/india-vs-england-not-easy-to-perform-after-receiving-kind-of-criticism-he-did-for-his-captaincy-at-lord-s-zaheer-khan-lauds-joe-root-101630028714821.html

 

[Robert]

Now rated #1 by ICC.

https://www.icc-cricket.com/rankings/mens/player-rankings/test/batting

 

[Last Monetarist]

Root has made a few technical adjustments since his struggles with Cummins and Hazlewood during the last Ashes series:

<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/q5g8i1" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div>

 

[Robert]

Root passes the record aggregate for an England batsman in a calendar year, with four innings left after this one.

 

[MenInG]

Joe Root has overtaken Michael Vaughan's record for the most Test runs in a calendar year by an England batter

 

[jnaveen1980]

Very good calendar year. Made runs against top bowling.

 

[Last Monetarist]

Those old technical flaws have creeped up again:

<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/440cx9" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div>

 

[Varun]

Average drops below 50 again.

 

[Last Monetarist]

Not able to deal with Boland in this series:

<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/o4uoqq" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div>

 

[MenInG]

Congratulations to Joe Root

==

Breathtaking consistency, hunger for big runs and numerous mesmerizing performances – the winner of the ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year Award had a year to remember. Here, we take a look at his performances and celebrate some of his outstanding achievements in 2021.

Joe Root – England
1708 runs in 15 matches with six centuries.


The year that was

The magnitude of Joe Root's sublime form in the year 2021 can be summed up by one simple stat – he has become only the third player in history to aggregate over 1700 runs in Test cricket in a calendar year. Only Mohammad Yousuf and Sir Vivian Richards stand ahead of him.

Be it Asia or conditions back at home and against a range of bowling, Root has almost conquered all with some sublime innings. His knocks in Galle against Sri Lanka, and against India in both Chennai and Lord's are some of the finest witnessed in the modern era, and will be spoken of highly for a long, long time. He hasn't been shabby with the ball as well, chipping in with a handy 14 wickets, including a five-for in Ahmedabad.


Memorable performance

Root's 218 in the first Test of the four-match series against India in Chennai was a masterclass in batting. He swatted away a quality bowling attack, both pace and spin, with utter ease. This continued his form from the series in Sri Lanka, where he was again in sensational touch.

Batting for 377 deliveries, the Indian bowling had no answers to the Root conundrum, as he set up a 227-run victory for the visitors. This was also a sign of things to come for the remainder of the year, as the England skipper played knock after knock of the highest calibre, irrespective of the opposition.

https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/2455858

 

[James]

Well done Joe Root.

Wonder what 2022 will bring.

 

[shaz619]

Well done Joe Root.

Wonder what 2022 will bring.

A humiliating mauling at the hands of the West Indies to start with

 

[Robert]

A humiliating mauling at the hands of the West Indies to start with

You'd expect Root to batter those bowlers. But he can't do it if the top three keep failing.

 

[Maher96]

Root own performance in 2021 was quite good. Problem was Root absoutely had Zero support for a while.

Also being removed from Limited Overs seems to have affected him.

 

[shaz619]

You'd expect Root to batter those bowlers. But he can't do it if the top three keep failing.

Stop getting the excuses ready. A player who is hyped to the moon should bat well against the WI regardless, am more interested to see his leadership though, I wonder if he will drop his meek and cowardly personality

 

[MenInG]

Falls for 11 - Must be disappointed with that shot.

 

[Ab Fan]

2021 was great but 2022 seems to be poor for him.

 

[James]

2021 was great but 2022 seems to be poor for him.

He has hit 2 centuries in 11 innings thus far.

Initially this looks good — but then the batting average that sits behind this performance turns out to be 35.80, which is quite low for him.

No 50s so far this year.

He needs to start contributing more often in 2022, even if it isn’t always a hundred that he scores; even a few half-centuries will greatly support the middle order.

 

[MenInG]

Hits 50 when it matters most - can lead them to a famous win vs NZ at Lord's

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A 54th Test fifty! &#55356;&#57295;&#55357;&#56399;<br><br>&#55356;&#57332;&#56128;&#56423;&#56128;&#56418;&#56128;&#56421;&#56128;&#56430;&#56128;&#56423;&#56128;&#56447; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ENGvNZ?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ENGvNZ</a> &#55356;&#56819;&#55356;&#56831; | <a href="https://twitter.com/IGcom?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IGCom</a> <a href="https://t.co/PYseIQjsc6">pic.twitter.com/PYseIQjsc6</a></p>— England Cricket (@englandcricket) <a href="https://twitter.com/englandcricket/status/1533138584017874944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 4, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[James]

This has already been a superb innings from Root. Under significant pressure and against quality bowlers, with very little support in the early part of his innings, he has been pitch perfect in this run chase. Quiet at first and then upped the scoring rate later on. Hope he can finish the job.

 

[Saj]

One of his best ever knocks this.

4th innings, facing a tricky target against a good pace attack.

Always looked in control and led the way.

Absolutely superb.

 

[Kaddy]

10,000 Runs

Congratulations.........

 

[Saj]

His first 100 in the 4th innings of a Test match.

Also reached the milestone of 10,000 Test runs at an average of just under 50.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

He's carried Englands batting for a couple of years.

Congratulations on the match winning knock and the massive 10,000 milestone.

 

[AAli98]

Big 3 get test matches handed out like confetti expect a below average player like Pope ending up with 12k runs..

 

[James]

Just fantastic. What a player

 

[Robert]

26 test centuries, 53 fifties, 10K test runs and average nudging 50.

Certainly as good as Pietersen and up there with May, Dexter, Barrington, Boycott and Gooch as the very best postwar England batters.

 

[James]

26 test centuries, 53 fifties, 10K test runs and average nudging 50.

Certainly as good as Pietersen.

Think Root and KP would both be in an all time England batting lineup.

 

[Robert]

Think Root and KP would both be in an all time England batting lineup.

Certainly the postwar ATG side.

 

[Ab Fan]

Kohli must learn from Root on how to bounce back from failures and rejevunate the best version of himself again. As a test batsman, Root has eclipsed Kohli comfortably.

 

[Joseph Gomes]

Kohli must learn from Root on how to bounce back from failures and rejevunate the best version of himself again. As a test batsman, Root has eclipsed Kohli comfortably.

It's not even a debate anymore IMO. Root has rescued England from a collapse a crazy number of times. Kohli's batting started declining as soon as both Rahane and Pujara became bad. Kohli couldn't handle the pressure of a weak Indian batting.

Smith and Root are much closer in quality than their stats suggest. England is a much harder batting condition than Australia

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A remarkable achievement from a remarkable player. To achieve such a huge milestone in such short time and young age is truly astonishing. Welcome to the club, champ &#55358;&#56605; <a href="https://twitter.com/root66?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@root66</a> <a href="https://t.co/eG8jtOBbZT">pic.twitter.com/eG8jtOBbZT</a></p>— Younus Khan (@YounusK75) <a href="https://twitter.com/YounusK75/status/1533420672394973186?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 5, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[topspin]

Certainly the postwar ATG side.

I think it would be insulting and disrespectful towards Root and KP if you were to pick any pre-war amateur English batsman over them.

This is what you call old era syndrome but I guess someone has to keep the amateurs relevant.

 

[Robert]

I think it would be insulting and disrespectful towards Root and KP if you were to pick any pre-war amateur English batsman over them.

This is what you call old era syndrome but I guess someone has to keep the amateurs relevant.

I would say... someone has to understand history.

What amateurs do you refer to?

Sir Jack Hobbs was a Professional, employed by Surrey CCC. Sir Len Hutton was a Professional, employed by YCCC. Denis Compton was a Professional, employed by MCCC. Sir Gubby Allen was registered as an Amateur, yet was as effective as team-mate Professionals Larwood, Voce and Bowes.

As I have often commented, the difference between Amateur and Professional status is blurry. Even the nineteenth-century Graces were paid from ticket money taken on the gate. The difference is connected to social class, not skill. Peter May and Ted Dexter was arguably the last great England Amateurs, but in order to be picked for England had to beat out Professional batsmen. They could do that because they were sporting prodigies.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

26 test centuries, 53 fifties, 10K test runs and average nudging 50.

Certainly as good as Pietersen and up there with May, Dexter, Barrington, Boycott and Gooch as the very best postwar England batters.

The same Gooch who averages 36 away from home is amongst the best England have ever produced? OK.

 

[Robert]

The same Gooch who averages 36 away from home is amongst the best England have ever produced? OK.

Ask the great Windies side what they think.

Four four years he was best batsman in the world. But early on in his career Lillee sorted him out, and later Alderman, so he had a lot of failures at the beginning which acted as a drag factor on his average.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Root you beauty!

Wiped the floor with greatest NZ bowling attack of all times in 4th innings

Lara-esque stuff.

 

[MP2011]

It's not even a debate anymore IMO. Root has rescued England from a collapse a crazy number of times. Kohli's batting started declining as soon as both Rahane and Pujara became bad. Kohli couldn't handle the pressure of a weak Indian batting.

Smith and Root are much closer in quality than their stats suggest. England is a much harder batting condition than Australia

Current Kohli isn't even a patch on Root. Overall too, Root beats Kohli very comfortably in the format that matters.

Kohli has only himself to blame though. He got too big for his boots once he got the captaincy. Not difficult to see why Kohli has become so pedestrian in whatever format he is playing.

OTOH, Root despite having only middling success as English captain, never took foot off the paddle. And he proved it today.

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Age when reaching 10,000 Test runs:<br><br>Sir Alastair Cook:<br>31 years & 157 days<br><br>Joe Root:<br>31 years & 157 days<br><br>&#55358;&#56623; <a href="https://t.co/m1ujC9aOMg">pic.twitter.com/m1ujC9aOMg</a></p>— England Cricket (@englandcricket) <a href="https://twitter.com/englandcricket/status/1533428908359655425?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 5, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Ask the great Windies side what they think.

Four four years he was best batsman in the world. But early on in his career Lillee sorted him out, and later Alderman, so he had a lot of failures at the beginning which acted as a drag factor on his average.

That's true for an umpteen number of cricketers. You are judged by the entire body of work in your career.

 

[Robert]

That's true for an umpteen number of cricketers. You are judged by the entire body of work in your career.

Fair enough. I'd say Gooch was a competent test batter from 1975 to 1989, then became the best batsman in the world when they gave him the armband. He got 670 runs in the five-test Ashes series of 1993 facing McGrath and Warne, repairing his average against Australia somewhat. But he was always top-line against WI, and England desperately missed him in the 1984 Blackwash. Still opening with Boycott on my list of England players I have seen, and certainly ahead of Strauss and Cook.

 

[Saj]

There's a bit of Mohammad Yousuf in Root's batting.

Never flustered, always calm and never bothered by the opposition sledging.

He plays each ball on merit and like Yousuf his get out shot is the dab behind square on the off side to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

Class act.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Fair enough. I'd say Gooch was a competent test batter from 1975 to 1989, then became the best batsman in the world when they gave him the armband. He got 670 runs in the five-test Ashes series of 1993 facing McGrath and Warne, repairing his average against Australia somewhat. But he was always top-line against WI, and England desperately missed him in the 1984 Blackwash. Still opening with Boycott on my list of England players I have seen, and certainly ahead of Strauss and Cook.

McGrath made his debut a few months after that Ashes. I think the bowlers wee Merv, Reiffel and Warne.

As far as Root is concerned, I'd say he is the best English batsman I've seen live. KP was more destructive on his day and Cook , while a great in his own right , didnt do much against high quality pace.

I'd go

Root
KP
Cook = Thorpe
Vaughan

I dont rate Athers, Nass etc.

 

[Bewal Express]

Roots batting against Ind last year is the best I have seen from any batsman in any summer in England against a quality bowling. And I have been watching since 1982

 

[James]

so is Joe Root the best batsman that England has produced? (ever?)

He may have a legitimate claim.

 

[Ab Fan]

so is Joe Root the best batsman that England has produced? (ever?)

He may have a legitimate claim.

Won't be the best because of failure in Australia but in my top 5.

Hobbs
Hammond
Sutcliffe
Barrington
Root

That's my top 5 for England of all-time. After that, the likes of KP, Compton, Dexter, Gooch, Cook etc in whatever order.

What makes Root special is that he has batted like a lone warrior not in one or two games but almost dozens of game whether at home or away except in Australia.

 

[James]

He needs to score at least one century away in Australia. There is not much else missing off the shopping list for him now.

 

[James]

2021 was great but 2022 seems to be poor for him.

Turned it around today!

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Did someone ask for a montage of every scoring shot from <a href="https://twitter.com/root66?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@root66</a>'s hundred? &#55357;&#56846;<br><br>&#55356;&#57332;&#56128;&#56423;&#56128;&#56418;&#56128;&#56421;&#56128;&#56430;&#56128;&#56423;&#56128;&#56447; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ENGvNZ?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ENGvNZ</a> &#55356;&#56819;&#55356;&#56831; <a href="https://t.co/1bXj1eeolu">pic.twitter.com/1bXj1eeolu</a></p>— England Cricket (@englandcricket) <a href="https://twitter.com/englandcricket/status/1533509069918593024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 5, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Moeey]

Fair enough. I'd say Gooch was a competent test batter from 1975 to 1989, then became the best batsman in the world when they gave him the armband. He got 670 runs in the five-test Ashes series of 1993 facing McGrath and Warne, repairing his average against Australia somewhat. But he was always top-line against WI, and England desperately missed him in the 1984 Blackwash. Still opening with Boycott on my list of England players I have seen, and certainly ahead of Strauss and Cook.

Root is England's best batsman ever along with KP.
Root is far better than kohli. Even peak vs peak. Root is closer to Smith than anyone else from any era.

 

[Mamoon]

The first few posts in this thread are laughable. Badly exposed some self-proclaimed experts.

Root was struggling to score tons for a few years but he was never out of form; he was still batting really well.

His class and skill has never been in doubt. Anyone who did so knows nothing about cricket - you just have to watch him bat for a few deliveries to realize how good he is.

One of the greatest batsmen of all time.

 

[Mamoon]

I think one thing everyone can agree on is that Root is nowhere near the other three atleast in Tests. They are all vastly superior batsmen. He is ofcourse a very good batsman and outranks Smith in ODIs but I just don't see him in the same light as I see the other three because he isn't integral to his team's cause in the same way Williamson, Kohli and Smith are

He's a mental midget.

He's a better version of Asad Shafiq.

Tell that to any of the top three batsmen: Kohli, Smith and Williamson. All of their averages went up when they became captain. He does not have the mental makeup of greats.

Genius.

 

[Robert]

Won't be the best because of failure in Australia but in my top 5.

Hobbs
Hammond
Sutcliffe
Barrington
Root

That's my top 5 for England of all-time. After that, the likes of KP, Compton, Dexter, Gooch, Cook etc in whatever order.

What makes Root special is that he has batted like a lone warrior not in one or two games but almost dozens of game whether at home or away except in Australia.

I’d put PBH May up there. He “only” averaged 46 but was supposedly the most clutch England batter of all. Succeeded when it mattered most and failed when it didn’t.

Agree that Root has been a lone gunman since Cook finished, other than the occasional Stokes wonder innings.

 

[Ab Fan]

I’d put PBH May up there. He “only” averaged 46 but was supposedly the most clutch England batter of all. Succeeded when it mattered most and failed when it didn’t.

Agree that Root has been a lone gunman since Cook finished, other than the occasional Stokes wonder innings.

I would put PBH May in same category as VVS Laxman. Clutch but not as prolific like Tendulkar, Dravid, Root.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Genius.

One outstanding performance doesn't change the fact that England have won 2 out of their last 20 tests.

It also doesn't change the fact that Williamson and Smith are better batters than him.

Only thing that has really changed is Kohli reaching new lows and no longer deserving of being mentioned in the same breath as the others.

 

[Mamoon]

One outstanding performance doesn't change the fact that England have won 2 out of their last 20 tests.

It also doesn't change the fact that Williamson and Smith are better batters than him.

Only thing that has really changed is Kohli reaching new lows and no longer deserving of being mentioned in the same breath as the others.

Smith has had a better Test career overall but he has been off the boil since 2019 Ashes, and Root has closed the gap. However, there is no doubt Smith is the better Test batsman when you take their whole careers.

Williamson is not better, never has been. It is a laughable assertion - Root has outclassed him in almost every major country, and Root hasn’t had the privilege of playing numerous matches against Bangladesh at home to boost his record.

Root has been outstanding for two years now and has carried the English lineup, so I’m not sure what you mean by “one outstanding performance”.

The assertion that Williamson is better because he carries the New Zealand team doesn’t hold any importance when you compare him to Root because he has even more weight on his shoulders.

The New Zealand batting lineup minus Williamson is better and has performed better over the last couple of years than the English batting lineup minus Root.

You are convincingly wrong about Root, and you are convincingly wrong in your assessment that Williamson is better than Root. It is up to you to admit it and move on or continue to clutch at straws.

 

[shaz619]

One outstanding performance doesn't change the fact that England have won 2 out of their last 20 tests.

It also doesn't change the fact that Williamson and Smith are better batters than him.

Only thing that has really changed is Kohli reaching new lows and no longer deserving of being mentioned in the same breath as the others.

The batting line up in general has been shocking, Rooty is a class act and special player, has been carrying the country on his back through some very hard times for the team and his form has been pretty good despite that. Am glad he got to enjoy this moment and while the top / lower order still need strengthening the team make up looked better and a lot fresher. He is already an England great / arguably an ATG and while I was a bit shocked this was his first hundred in the 4th innings, Root even after getting to the magical 10k barrier has more great performances left in him

 

[shaz619]

What a win for England and another great advert for Tests, I expected another collapse but what a finish! Foakes was outstanding to and is a proper Test match keeper batter. While it would be nice to have Mo back in his preferred position, he would greatly strengthen the lower order and shorten the tail, he is still the best spin option at home that’s one quick/easy improvement but what of the top order / no.3 which will be like musical chairs for sometime but Zack Crawley must be backed, maybe send Sir Cook a letter from PM Boris [MENTION=7774]Robert[/MENTION] [MENTION=1842]James[/MENTION]

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Currently he is the best batsman of the fab 4 in test match cricket. He went through a really bad patch where he just couldn't convert his 50's into 100's and that has dented his test average in comparison to the others.

In 50 overs all of the fab 4 are now past their respective bests but Joe probably comes second to Kohli when taking overall careers into account.

In T20i ( overall) Root, Kohli and Smith are not fit to tie Kohli's laces.

Overall I think it goes like:

1. Kohli
2. Smith
3. Root
4. Williamson.

There is a chance for Root to take the number 2 spot if this purple patch continues and Smith's slightly lean patch continues.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

The first few posts in this thread are laughable. Badly exposed some self-proclaimed experts.

Root was struggling to score tons for a few years but he was never out of form; he was still batting really well.

His class and skill has never been in doubt. Anyone who did so knows nothing about cricket - you just have to watch him bat for a few deliveries to realize how good he is.

One of the greatest batsmen of all time.

Maybe reserve these hyperboles for when he finally helps England win a series in West Indies again lol. Hopefully it won't be another decade before that finally happens.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Root is on another level of comfortability whilst batting. Always busy, always quick to react. Plays his shots without any fear. A wonderful strike rotator. Easily the best in Tests atm. Appears to be shedding his bad habits of old continuously now. Hope to see him score more runs.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

What a win for England and another great advert for Tests, I expected another collapse but what a finish! Foakes was outstanding to and is a proper Test match keeper batter. While it would be nice to have Mo back in his preferred position, he would greatly strengthen the lower order and shorten the tail, he is still the best spin option at home that’s one quick/easy improvement but what of the top order / no.3 which will be like musical chairs for sometime but Zack Crawley must be backed, maybe send Sir Cook a letter from PM Boris [MENTION=7774]Robert[/MENTION] [MENTION=1842]James[/MENTION]

Eng need to get Ben Compton as an opener before he gets overexposed to outlandish swing and seam in domestic cricket.

 

[Moeey]

It's one home win for God sake guys. Home win lmao. You guys are acting like you won the WC lol poor English fans. So used to getting butchered I guess.

 

[James]

It's one home win for God sake guys. Home win lmao. You guys are acting like you won the WC lol poor English fans. So used to getting butchered I guess.

England won one Test out of the last seventeen before this, they’ve had some miserable tours during which England fans have endured and stuck by them.

England have got new management/coaching and a new captain in and they are playing the world Test champions — they won when they were not expected to do so — and their cherished great batsman scored a century and got his 10,000 Test runs to take them over the line.

It’s a big confidence boosting win for the English team and England fans are entitled to celebrate and enjoy it.

 

[Robert]

[MENTION=139595]Ab Fan[/MENTION]

Herbert Sutcliffe is a curious one. He averaged more than Sir Jack Hobbs in tests, scoring sixteen centuries in his 54 interwar matches - the first man to do this.

He was the first professional to captain Yorkshire. Though not an educated man like grammar-schooled Bill Bowes, his extreme dedication to his craft and Saville Row suits impressed the club.

He was a true self-made man who came from poverty and set up a sportswear chain with the money he made from cricket.

He opened for England with Hobbs and latterly for Yorks with the young Len Hutton.

Fred Trueman described him as a very hard man to get out - though he must have been in his cricket dotage when he faced the tyro Trueman.

He forms part of the triptych of great Yorkshire openers, with Hutton and Boycott.

 

[Robert]

It's one home win for God sake guys. Home win lmao. You guys are acting like you won the WC lol poor English fans. So used to getting butchered I guess.

That’s a rather nasty metaphor. Sport isn’t an abattoir.

A win is a win. It’s better than a loss. England are moving in the right direction with Strauss, MacCullum and Stokes instead of out-of-depth Giles and Silverwood, and a Root who didn’t seem to know how to manage his bowlers.

Now they have to find a couple of test match openers and get the quick bowlers healthy again.

 

[MenInG]

Sir Alastair Cook says Joe Root will go "miles past" his record for the number of Test runs scored by an England batter.

Root's match-winning century in the first Test against New Zealand saw him become only the second Englishman, after Cook, to pass 10,000 runs.

Root is 2,457 behind Cook's mark of 12,472.

"He is a pleasure to watch, the most complete England batsman I have seen," Cook told BBC Sport.

"The person who could play the most incredible innings was Kevin Pietersen, but for the most complete batsmen in all three forms, it's Root. His consistency is incredible."

Cook was England captain when Root made his Test debut as a 21-year-old against India in 2012.

"He was a very good player of spin, as good as anyone," said Cook, who played 161 Tests for England. "That was obvious to see, even at that young age.

"He was ready to play international cricket. You knew he could handle the occasion."

Root's 115 not out against New Zealand at Lord's came in his 118th Test and made him the 14th player in the history of the game to achieve the 10,000 milestone.

At 31 years and 157 days, Root equalled Cook's record for the youngest player to reach the landmark, while he is the first to do so within 10 years of his debut.

"Barring injury, he'll go miles past my record," said Cook.

"He is so hard to tie down. I had to grind my way to 30, it always took me what felt like two hours. Because Joe has got so many low-risk scoring options, pretty much through 360 degrees, he will often get to 30 off 40 balls."

Left-hander Cook sits fifth on an all-time list topped by India legend Sachin Tendulkar, who made 15,921 runs in 200 Tests between 1989 and 2013.

If Root is to have a chance of breaking Tendulkar's record, he is likely to have to play at least 60 more Tests.

Given the greater amount of time given to white-ball cricket in the modern game, it might be that Root is the last player to have a realistic chance of overhauling Tendulkar.

Cook ended his international career at the age of 33 - just two years older than Root is now - but he believes their contrasting batting styles means Root will have a greater energy to play Test cricket at an older age.

"I would never have said I would finish at 33, but the time felt right for me," said Cook.

"The mental strain I felt to score runs took a toll on me. I'm not saying it's easy for him, but he doesn't seem to have that problem."

BBC

 

[Moeey]

England won one Test out of the last seventeen before this, they’ve had some miserable tours during which England fans have endured and stuck by them.

England have got new management/coaching and a new captain in and they are playing the world Test champions — they won when they were not expected to do so — and their cherished great batsman scored a century and got his 10,000 Test runs to take them over the line.

It’s a big confidence boosting win for the English team and England fans are entitled to celebrate and enjoy it.

England kicked s.africas butts 3-1 away. Many other teams got rolled vs s.africans.
England also won a test match in India which again many failed to do.
England decimated lankans away. England lost a closely fought 1 0 series to Kiwis.

Only performed badly in Australia but even when they had their best players, England never performed well vs them away from home.

One blunder was the loss to Kiwis at home which was a surprise.

So England haven't been bad. They are a good side when they have all players available. Wood Robinson woakes maybe moeen makes England stronger in England, s.africa and n.z

 

[Moeey]

That’s a rather nasty metaphor. Sport isn’t an abattoir.

A win is a win. It’s better than a loss. England are moving in the right direction with Strauss, MacCullum and Stokes instead of out-of-depth Giles and Silverwood, and a Root who didn’t seem to know how to manage his bowlers.

Now they have to find a couple of test match openers and get the quick bowlers healthy again.

Wonder if the same standards apply to Asian teams when they butcher the sena nations in Asian conditions. Or is it just reserved for the anglos.

 

[Joseph Gomes]

One outstanding performance doesn't change the fact that England have won 2 out of their last 20 tests.

It also doesn't change the fact that Williamson and Smith are better batters than him.

Only thing that has really changed is Kohli reaching new lows and no longer deserving of being mentioned in the same breath as the others.

Williamson is so much behind Root as a batsman, it's a joke really. Williamson is the biggest statpadding minnowbasher in the history of cricket, and the worst batsman to average over 50. Root is an ATG alongside Smith from current era.

 

[Robert]

Wonder if the same standards apply to Asian teams when they butcher the sena nations in Asian conditions. Or is it just reserved for the anglos.

Of course, it's an ugly metaphor whoever plays whoever.

 

[Moeey]

Williamson is so much behind Root as a batsman, it's a joke really. Williamson is the biggest statpadding minnowbasher in the history of cricket, and the worst batsman to average over 50. Root is an ATG alongside Smith from current era.

Root is well above kohli who is well above Kane. In saying that, Kane is younger.

 

[Robert]

Williamson is so much behind Root as a batsman, it's a joke really. Williamson is the biggest statpadding minnowbasher in the history of cricket, and the worst batsman to average over 50. Root is an ATG alongside Smith from current era.

Williamson averages 55 at home and 47 away. You could argue that he padded his stats against Bangla, but he doesn't really have a weakness against any team. 36 vs England with three centuries is his least good return.

Root has caught up with Williamson because he is absolutely hammering it now, with nine centuries in his last 21 tests.

 

[Moeey]

Williamson averages 55 at home and 47 away. You could argue that he padded his stats against Bangla, but he doesn't really have a weakness against any team. 36 vs England with three centuries is his least good return.

Root has caught up with Williamson because
he is absolutely hammering it now, with nine centuries in his last 21 tests.

Root is only behind Smith. No one else comes close. Root is one of the best ever. Period.
He is one match winning ashes performance in australia from becoming best ever after smithy in ATG list

 

[topspin]

Williamson is so much behind Root as a batsman, it's a joke really. Williamson is the biggest statpadding minnowbasher in the history of cricket, and the worst batsman to average over 50. Root is an ATG alongside Smith from current era.

Agreed.

Williamson's away performances against the best bowling attacks isn't great.

In England, South Africa and India, he currently averages 29, 21 and 33 respectively.

He's done okay in Australia where he averages 42 but nothing special.

Root has fared far better away from home.



There's no comparison between KW and Root. The latter is far ahead.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

One outstanding performance doesn't change the fact that England have won 2 out of their last 20 tests.

It also doesn't change the fact that Williamson and Smith are better batters than him.

Only thing that has really changed is Kohli reaching new lows and no longer deserving of being mentioned in the same breath as the others.

Root's record is more balanced against top opponents than Williamson's.
Currently, I'd go

Smith
Root
KW
Kohli