In preparation for the upcoming five-match Test series against India, England batsman Joe Root has been diligently working on his skills, with a particular focus on facing spinners. Recognizing the potential threat posed by Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and Ravichandran Ashwin, Root underwent an intensified net session on Tuesday (23rd January).
While Root appeared comfortable against the pacers, he encountered challenges when facing the left-arm spinner, a weakness that Jadeja and Patel may exploit in the upcoming series. During the session, the England captain was dismissed by the young U-17 spinner V Yashveer, who serves as one of the net bowlers for England’s preparation against Jadeja and Patel.
Yashveer delivered a flighted and slower ball from over the wicket, leaving Root frustrated as he failed to reach the pitch and was subsequently bowled with the ball spinning sharply to hit the top of the off stump. Reflecting on the delivery, Yashveer expressed satisfaction in dismissing a top-class batter like Root and shared his delight in contributing to the team’s preparation. In an interview with CricketNext News18, Yashveer explained the nuances of the delivery that led to Root’s dismissal.
“It was a delivery with ample flight, and he [Root] had requested a lofted ball. I derived satisfaction from successfully dismissing him.”
Yashveer continued to pose challenges for Joe Root during their net sessions. Despite several attempts, the batsman struggled to execute proper sweep shots, often mistiming the ball, leading to pop-ups in positions resembling where a forward short leg would be stationed during a match.
Throughout the ten overs that Yashveer bowled to Joe Root, the batter found it difficult to find his rhythm. Despite appearing in an attacking mindset, Root actively provided feedback to the bowler on where to deliver the ball. He resorted to sweeping against well-pitched deliveries and adjusted by rocking back when the length was on the shorter side.
Joe Root faces difficulties when confronting Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja
In the previous two tours of India, Joe Root encountered challenges when facing left-arm spinners. During the 2021 tour, Axar Patel proved particularly formidable, dismissing Root three times and showcasing a variety of variations that left the batter seemingly perplexed on each occasion. Similarly, in the 2016 tour, Ravindra Jadeja removed Root three times. Despite possessing a commendable average against left-arm spinners at 41.11, it remains notably lower compared to his averages against off-spinners and left-arm pace. Strikingly, Root appears to struggle against Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja.
However, England’s adoption of a Bazball approach suggests that Joe Root might have an advantage. Employing a more aggressive strategy, Root may choose to take on Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja, aiming to score quick runs and improve his record against them.
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