Ashes 2021-22: England Have Become So Reliant On Joe Root To Score Runs, Says Michael Atherton

Former England skipper Michael Atherton said that the England cricket team is being too much dependent on current captain Joe Root for scoring runs.

Root has been having a great year with the bat as he has already scored 1544 runs at an average of 64.33 in 2021 so far.

England have become so reliant on Joe Root: Michael Atherton

In the four Test matches against India, Root single-handedly dealt with the Indian bowlers as he scored 564 runs from seven innings. The second-highest run-scorer from England in that series is Jonny Bairstow with 184 runs at an average of 26.29.

Even in the first Test against Australia in Brisbane, England were skittled out for 147 as Root departed for a nought in the first innings.

Atherton feels that England rely on Root for producing big innings and post a competitive score.

“If you look at England in the last dozen Tests… they’ve become so reliant on Root,” Atherton wrote in his column for Sky Sports.

“And if England are going to do well in Australia, you’d think he’s going to have to have a productive series, but he needs others around him to support him as well,” he further added.

England were completely under-prepared: Michael Atherton

On Day 2, riding on a breathtaking 100th century by Travis Head (152) with some great batting by David Warner (94) and Marnus Labushagne (74), Australia achieved a huge lead of 278.

England were looking to claw their way back into the game on the third day after skipper Joe Root and Dawid Malan’s resistance in an unbeaten 112-run stand.

But some incredulous bowling by Nathan Lyon turned the shape of the game as the visitors were bowled out for 297 with a minuscule lead of 19 runs, the hosts took just 5.1 overs to chase the score.

“Malan batted well … but England’s batting in both innings, other than that one partnership, was poor and that’s going to cost them. They were completely under-prepared, and I have a lot of sympathy for them in this regard,” Atherton mentioned.

The second Ashes Test between Australia and England will start on December 16 at the Adelaide Oval.

Also Read: Ashes 2021-22: Geoffrey Boycott Feels Mark Wood “Throwing His Body 100 Per Cent Into Every Delivery Is A Recipe For Injury”