Michael Atherton Feels Joe Root’s Resurgence Is Due to Technical Changes in His Batting

Former England player Michael Atherton showered praise on Joe Root and reckoned that the few changes made by the 30-year-old in his batting have benefitted him to the hilt. Root remained unbeaten on 180 with England racking up 291, thereby taking a first-innings lead of 27.

Root, having come in as early as the 15th over, played for the next five sessions and put India under the pump. Runs flowed from his bat and he barely made any mistakes during a marathon knock. Speaking to Sky Sports, Atherton had nothing but praise for Root.

“I think this is a reward for some incredible work he did in lockdown. It came at a time when he was 29 and had already had a fantastic career.”

“But it just gave him an opportunity to rest, where he’s said ‘I’ve got the second half of my career to come and I can go from being a very, very fine player to one of the all-time greats’,” Atherton, who is currently commentating in the Lord’s Test, said.

“He has made a slight technical adjustment now” – Michael Atherton

En route to his hundred, Root passed 9000 runs in Test cricket, becoming only the second Englishman after Alastair Cook to do so. He has already amassed more than 350 runs across three innings in this series, and the credit goes to changes in his technique, as Atherton pointed out.

“He’s made a slight technical adjustment now, with that back leg going straight back. That made him less vulnerable to the lbw when the ball is straight. For three years, he’s not been quite at his best at home against seam and pace bowling.”

The match is heading towards a draw unless India stupendously crumbles under pressure on Day 4. The series is currently level at 0-0.

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