England skipper says need 600+ runs in India Test
CHENNAI: Skipper Joe Root hit a century in his 100th Test on Friday, but said England need a minimum 600 runs in the opening match against India.
“I think we’ve got to look to try and get as many as we can -- 600, 700 if we can, really try and make the most of the first innings while it’s good,” Root said. “Those footholes are starting to wear quite quickly. So, if we can bat the whole of tomorrow and maybe into day three then things could speed up quite quickly for us and you never know what can happen from that point onwards, but ultimately we’ve got to try and back up today.”
Root made his Test debut in India in 2012 and his century comes on the back of matchwinning knocks of 228 and 186 in Sri Lanka. Friday’s effort was his third successive and 20th Test ton and termed it a “very special” knock. “Yeah, very special. Last night the guys actually put a little surprise together for me -- put some videos from some past players, some friends and family. And Ben in particular, stood up and said some really kind words,” said Root.
“Then to come today and for us to start this series in the way that we have -- it couldn’t have gone any better bar a little blip at the end there.”
“I certainly feel like I’m in some good form and I need to make sure I cash in on it I think over the course of my career, I’ve not always gone on and made really big scores so to be going and doing that currently is really pleasing,” he added. “I’ve worked on a few technical things I’ve looked at a few areas of my game. I’ve looked at certain trends of how I was getting out at certain types of my innings, and tried to eradicate it.”
The 30-year-old handled the spinners with aplomb as he swept -- and reverse swept -- to precision in his 197-ball knock. He struck 14 fours and a six.
Bio-bubbles mentally draining,: Shastri
Indian cricketers must get a twoweek break after this year’s IPL to recover from fatigue since staying in bio-bubbles is “mentally draining”, head coach Ravi Shastri said on Friday. The Indian players have not taken a break since the IPL 2020 in September in the UAE. The IPL was followed by a challenging Australia tour comprising four Tests, three ODIs and three T20Is.
“I do believe you need a break from international cricket at some point. After the England series, yes they go into the IPL. Again after the IPL, a couple of weeks off is a must,” Ravi Shastri told Star Sports.
“Because in these quarantines, in these bubbles, it is mentally draining. You are a human, at the end of it all.”