England batter Joe Root has come up with a fitting reply to the former Australian cricketer Darren Lehmann. Root made these comments ahead of the first Test between New Zealand and England at Christchurch.
Lehmann had earlier argued that Root is not an all-time great since he has not scored a hundred in Australia so far and has a rather disappointing record down under. His comments came after Virat Kohli scored his seventh Test ton in Australia recently in the Perth Test.
Root has scored 35 Test hundreds, which is also the most for an England batter. However, he is yet to pass the three-figure mark on Australian soil. Given that he is already among the modern-day greats, it seems only a matter of time before he scores a century in Australia.
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Joe Root gives a fitting reply to Darren Lehmann
While speaking in Christchurch ahead of the first Test between New Zealand and England, Joe Root lashed out at Darren Lehmann and claimed that he just wants to concentrate on scoring runs. He further added that Lehmann is just doing his job, which is to give his opinion.
"My job is to score runs, right? To turn up every game and try to do all I can out in the middle. His job is to give his opinion and talk on the radio," Root was quoted as saying by BBC Sport.
Darren Lehmann even served as the part of coaching staff at Yorkshire when Joe Root was an emerging player. When asked about having a conversation with Lehmann, Root responded that he hadn't talked to him for some time.
"I've not spoken to him for a while. I'll do my job and he can do his job. He's completely entitled to say what he wants. That's his right," said Root.
Earlier, Darren Lehmann claimed that not scoring a Test hundred in Australia is the only thing stopping Joe Root. He questioned his all-time greatness and felt that he was yet to achieve that position.
"That's the only thing stopping Joe Root. He's a great player, but is he an all-time great? I don't have him in that realm," Lehmann said to ABC Sport.
Joe Root's numbers in Australia
Lehmann was Australia's head coach for four Ashes series that Root has been a part of. Joe Root has played 14 Tests in Australia in which he has scored 892 runs at a modest average of 35.68 and 9 fifties.
Overall, Root has played 149 Tests and scored 12754 runs at an average of 51.01 with 35 hundreds and 64 fifties. He is just 33 now and has a chance to become the highest run-getter in the world.
Root will play his 150th Test match in the first Test between New Zealand and England at Christchurch. The three-match Test series between these two teams will begin on November 28.
"His job is to..." - Joe Root fires back at Darren Lehmann after latter's controversial comments
Published - 26 Nov 2024, 05:27 PM | Updated - 26 Nov 2024, 05:28 PM
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England batter Joe Root has come up with a fitting reply to the former Australian cricketer Darren Lehmann. Root made these comments ahead of the first Test between New Zealand and England at Christchurch.
Lehmann had earlier argued that Root is not an all-time great since he has not scored a hundred in Australia so far and has a rather disappointing record down under. His comments came after Virat Kohli scored his seventh Test ton in Australia recently in the Perth Test.
Root has scored 35 Test hundreds, which is also the most for an England batter. However, he is yet to pass the three-figure mark on Australian soil. Given that he is already among the modern-day greats, it seems only a matter of time before he scores a century in Australia.
Also read: Saudi Arabia to start richest cricket league in the world after IPL 2025 Auction? SACF chairman reveals
Joe Root gives a fitting reply to Darren Lehmann
While speaking in Christchurch ahead of the first Test between New Zealand and England, Joe Root lashed out at Darren Lehmann and claimed that he just wants to concentrate on scoring runs. He further added that Lehmann is just doing his job, which is to give his opinion.
"My job is to score runs, right? To turn up every game and try to do all I can out in the middle. His job is to give his opinion and talk on the radio," Root was quoted as saying by BBC Sport.
Darren Lehmann even served as the part of coaching staff at Yorkshire when Joe Root was an emerging player. When asked about having a conversation with Lehmann, Root responded that he hadn't talked to him for some time.
"I've not spoken to him for a while. I'll do my job and he can do his job. He's completely entitled to say what he wants. That's his right," said Root.
Darren Lehmann's controversial comments on Joe Root
Earlier, Darren Lehmann claimed that not scoring a Test hundred in Australia is the only thing stopping Joe Root. He questioned his all-time greatness and felt that he was yet to achieve that position.
"That's the only thing stopping Joe Root. He's a great player, but is he an all-time great? I don't have him in that realm," Lehmann said to ABC Sport.
Joe Root's numbers in Australia
Lehmann was Australia's head coach for four Ashes series that Root has been a part of. Joe Root has played 14 Tests in Australia in which he has scored 892 runs at a modest average of 35.68 and 9 fifties.
Overall, Root has played 149 Tests and scored 12754 runs at an average of 51.01 with 35 hundreds and 64 fifties. He is just 33 now and has a chance to become the highest run-getter in the world.
Root will play his 150th Test match in the first Test between New Zealand and England at Christchurch. The three-match Test series between these two teams will begin on November 28.
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England National Cricket Team New Zealand National Cricket Team NZ vs ENG New Zealand vs England ICC World Test Championship Joe Root Darren Lehmann