Joe Root's game hampered by Bazball alleges former English captain

Former England Test captain Alastair Cook feels that Joe Root is struggling due to Bazball approach in the ongoing IND vs ENG Test series. Cook feels that Joe Root is finding it hard to balance his attack and defence right due to Bazball.

Joe Root failed to come up with any big knock in the IND vs ENG first two Tests. Root has registered scores of 29, 2, 5, and 16 across two games. In the 2nd innings of the previous Test, he batted at a high pace hitting 16 off 10 balls with 2 fours and 1 six. However, he soon got out by Ravichandran Ashwin while trying to go for a big shot.

England Test skipper Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum have adorned an aggressive approach in Test cricket, where they try to bat at a high strike rate. However, Joe Root has significantly struggled under the approach of Bazball, as he is known for his patient batting style in Tests.

Also Read: Kevin Pietersen brags about dismissing MS Dhoni, Zaheer Khan counters him with Yuvraj Singh bouncer

Joe Root is struggling in the Bazball era, feels Alastair Cook

While speaking on TNT Sports, former England opener Alastair Cook said that Joe Root is struggling to match the tempo of the Bazball.

“He is England’s best batsman there’s ever been in all formats – but he does struggle sometimes with the tempo of this Bazball era. He sees all these other people playing these aggressive shots, which suit their style”, the former left-handed batter said.

Alastair Cook, who played 161 Tests for England, added that Root is struggling to get his balance of attack and defence right due to the Bazball style.

“Rooty has got 11,500 Test runs, he’s brilliant, but he’s so desperate to fit into what Ben (Stokes) and Brendon (McCullum) are doing that sometimes I don’t think he gets his balance of attack and defence right,” he further added.

Also Read: Rachin Ravindra denies sharing his Man of the Match award with Kane Williamson

Don’t think Joe Root was in control: Alastair Cook

Cook, who represented England from 2006 to 2018, also noted how Root tried to bat at a high strike rate in IND vs ENG 2nd Test, unlike his regular batting approach.

“He was on 16 off nine balls and he doesn’t normally strike at that rate – he’s normally striking at 75 to 80, which is still incredibly high for a Test match strike-rate, with zero risk. That’s when I love watching Joe Root bat.”

“When he gets in, you call it early – I’ve called it early a few times on sub-continent days: he’s on 15 but he’s getting a hundred here. He’s going to milk them at his will, sweeps, all in control. I don’t think he was in that control,” said the 49-year-old.

Also Read: Nasser Hussain wants Virat Kohli to comeback for England Tests so that James Anderson can dismiss him

Joe Root is 2nd highest run-getter for England in Tests

Joe Root is the second-highest run-getter for England in Tests after Alastair Cook. The Test specialist batsman has mustered 11,468 runs in 137 Tests averaging 49.65. The right-handed batsman also has a good record in the sub-continent and has also shattered a double ton in India.

However, the former England skipper has struggled in the ongoing IND vs ENG Test series. He has even failed to reach a half-century in any match. The IND vs ENG Test series is tied at 1-1 after two games. While England won 1st Test by 28 runs, India won the 2nd game by 106 runs.