Last-over anguish for Root
JOE ROOT suffered twice in two balls to leave England with a mountain to climb in the first Test against New Zealand.
After batting with patience through the early evening and into the night, Root was hit on the index finger of his right hand by a Trent Boult bouncer that left him in agony and requiring treatment for several minutes.
With just two balls left on day four, Root might have considered retiring hurt and asking nightwatchman Craig Overton to hold the fort, but instead he batted on.
It proved a mistake as Boult set up his field for the short ball and Root gloved the ball down the legside for keeper BJ Watling to take. Root was angry with himself at getting out after he battled hard to yet another Test 50, giving it away with England trying to make the most of the rain that has kept them in the game.
Stuart Broad said: “It was a real shame to lose Joe from the last ball of the day after he’d played so brilliantly for his 50.
“We were watching from the viewing area and he came straight in and went into the back room to work on breathing techniques to calm himself down.
“When he got hit we mentioned the possibility of a nightwatchman, but when a bloke has been out there for 120 balls and on 50, he’d be backing himself to see off those last two balls.”
Mark Stoneman also made 50 and was suckerpunched with a short ball from Neil Wagner he pulled to deep square leg and Alastair Cook made it a legside trio, caught flicking a terrible ball from Boult to the keeper.