Joe Root ruled out of the remainder of 2nd Test? James Anderson provides colossal update

England batter Joe Root should be fit to bat on day four as per James Anderson. The visitors are chasing 399 to win the second Test and are 67/1 in 14 overs after the end of the third day’s play.

England need another 332 runs to win the second Test with two more days of play remaining. Meanwhile, Joe Root who took the catch of Yashasvi Jaiswal early on day 2 to remove him was hit on his right little finger as he tried to stop the edge from Shreyas Iyer. Root was injured in the eighth over of the Indian innings.

He immediately winced in pain after the injury and was out of the playing field for the remaining part of the day’s play. He also bowled a few overs on day 3 before getting injured.

Joe Root’s Finger Is Not Great: James Anderson

James Anderson who took 2/29 in the second innings with the ball spoke about Root’s condition after the day’s play. England’s medical team spent the day treating and icing Root’s finger. There were no reports of further scans.

He further said that the medical team considered it best for Root to undergo treatment and hence did not send him out to the field again. Young spinners Tom Hartley and Rehan Ahmed delivered for England in his absence. Hartley took 4/77 while Rehan took 3/88 as India were bowled out for 255 in their second innings.

“His finger is not great. He took a blow in training this morning and again on the field. It’s just making sure that is as good as it can be for when he bats. Hopefully tomorrow he’ll turn up at the ground and be OK to hold a bat” said Anderson.

“He was just making sure he could do everything he could to help us out in the second innings, just making sure it’s as good as possible for tomorrow. There’s a chance we will need him with the bat so it’s making sure he can hold a bat” Anderson added.

“I don’t think there’s concerns. It’s making sure he’s as good as he can be. There’s no point risking it for an external blow, no point risking it further out in the middle, so it’s making sure he’s good enough to bat.”

Shubman Gill scored his third Test ton and played a major role in India reaching that target. They set up England a target of 399 runs out of which England have already scored 67 off 14 overs in the final session of play.

England now need another 332 runs in the remaining two days of play. With England playing with an aggressive intent there are chances that the match might finish on day 2. England’s approach gives India an opportunity to pick up wickets as well. England scored 253 in response to India’s first innings score of 396.

The Indian tailenders could not take the team beyond 400 in the final session as the England spinners kept chipping away with the wickets in the final session of play. Given that the pitch will only get tougher to bat on with the Indian spinners coming into play, it will be interesting to see how the England batters play. Root with his prior experience of playing well on the turning tracks in India becomes a key batter along with skipper Ben Stokes.

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