India vs England 2021: Joe Root Is Arguably England’s Best-Ever Player Of Spin - Nasser Hussain

Former England captain, Nasser Hussain opines that Joe Root is arguably the best player of spin England has ever had. Hussain reckons Joe Root has the ability to leapfrog Sir Alastair Cook’s record of most Test matches and most Test runs for England.

After a century-less 2020, Joe Root has hit a freakish, dreamy, surreal patch this year – in three Tests in 2021 the right-hander has amassed 684 runs at an average of 114.00; Root’s overall average, which was 47.99 before the Test series in Sri Lanka, has now gone past 50.

That all these runs have come in Asia – two Tests in Sri Lanka and one in India – and considering his prior record in Asia – an average of 46 which is now 58 in Asia – makes Nasser Hussain hail Joe Root as probably the best-ever player of spin for the Three Lions.

Joe Root,30, is currently the third-leading Test run-scorer for England – he has 8507 runs in 100 Tests behind Graham Gooch, and Sir Alastair, who leads the charts with 12472 in 161 matches.

“Root sure is one of England’s greats. He will probably end up breaking all records, he will probably go past Sir Alastair Cook’s 161 Test matches and probably tally of runs as well,” Nasser Hussain wrote in his column for ‘Sky Sports’.

“He is in great nick, only 30 years old, and if you did a list of all-time England batting greats – the ones I have seen anyway – you’d have to have Root with Cook, Graham Gooch and Kevin Pietersen. I would say he is arguably England’s best-ever player of spin, the way he sweeps spin away is outstanding to watch,” he added.

Perfect performance from England after people have written them off: Nasser Hussain

Nasser Hussain lauds the England team for winning – in fact dominating – a strong and confident Indian side in Chennai. India after conquering Australia in Brisbane were bolstered by the return of several major players – Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, and R Ashwin – but were still outdone, in their home conditions by the visitors.

The 52-year-old cricketer-turned-commentator the Chennai victory is one of the best in England cricket’s history as Joe Root and Chris Silverwood’s side have now registered their sixth consecutive away Test win.

“People were writing England off, saying this series could be 4-0 to India. No one really gave this side much of a chance. India had won in Australia, Virat Kohli was back and India is a very difficult place to go and win in Test match cricket.

“So, this win for England has to be right up there, especially away from home. They put in the perfect performance. From ball one to the final delivery, it was outstanding.

“If you asked Joe Root or Chris Silverwood right now whether they are the best side in the world they would say no. But they have been the best side they can be. Six away from home in a row, if you go back to South Africa last winter,” Nasser Hussain further added.

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