ENG vs AUS: "He Has Found His Method And Balance" - Alastair Cook Lauds Joe Root's Bazball Approach

Former England captain Sir Alastair Cook lauded Joe Root for transforming himself into an aggressive batter under the team’s Bazball approach. Alastair Cook stated that Joe Root used the reverse scoop effectively in the Test, highlighting that it was considered a white-ball cricket shot.

Joe Root adopted the aggressive template of Bazball, despite there being doubts about him. The right-handed batter began the Ashes 2023 series with a brilliant hundred in the first Test against Australia. He has scored 316 runs in the four Tests with an impressive average of 52.67.

Also read: ENG vs AUS: Justin Langer Lauds Bazball As England Prove The Style Can Work Against The Best Bowling Attack

Root Has Always Been An Extraordinary Player – Alastair Cook

In an interview with the Times of India, Alastair Cook said that Joe Root found the balance between playing his natural game and aggressive cricket.

“Root has always been an extraordinary player. Sometimes I used to get frustrated playing with him because he came in to bat when I was batting in my 30s and in no time he was ahead of me. But playing this new way has given a new impetus to his career.

“Root has found his method and balance. One would like to think that the reverse scoop he plays is a limited-overs shot. But it is actually most effective against the length ball, a delivery that is rarely bowled in the latter stages of white-ball cricket.”

Joe Root will be next seen in action when England take on Australia in the fifth Ashes Test at The Oval in London, starting on Thursday, July 27.

Also read: ENG vs AUS: “No, Not At All” – David Warner Remains Firm On Retirement Decision From Red-Ball Cricket

Would Have Liked To Play A Different Player – Alastair Cook

When asked how he would have adopted the Bazball approach, Alastair Cook acknowledged that he might have needed to adapt his game to fit in the team.

“Maybe Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum would have liked to play a different player, or I would have had to play differently to get into the Test team. But that’s fine, because the effect that these guys are having on English cricket is phenomenal.”

England’s Test team suffered a 4-0 defeat in Australia and a 1-0 loss in the Caribbean before Joe Root stepped down as captain. The team hired separate coaches for white-ball and red-ball cricket and became successful in all three formats of the games.