TON ’N GROOVE
Zak: We knew Root would stop the rot
ZAK CRAWLEY says England never doubted “phenomenal” Joe Root would return to form.
The former captain has struggled for runs, not even reaching 30 in the first three Tests in India.
But he returned in sensational style to hit a century as England recovered from an early minicollapse to take charge of the mustwin fourth Test in Ranchi.
“He’s probably the only bloke in our team who could have done that knock, he’s that good and he’s stepped up when we needed him to,” said Crawley.
“He’s a phenomenal player. We fully expected him to get a good score at some point in this series. He was due, he’s the best player we’ve ever had and he played phenomenally.
“We’re so happy for him and we never doubted him. If anything, we know that when he’s got a couple of low scores, he’s even more likely to get the big one. We expected that.
“He deserves everything he gets, he works so hard at his game and he always comes good.”
Root hit 106 not out to rescue England, who went to stumps on 302-7 after they had slipped to 112-5 in a helter-skelter opening session on a cracked pitch.
His 31st Test hundred – off 219 balls, the slowest century by any England batter under the leadership of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum – was marked in understated fashion as he kissed the badge on his helmet and raised his bat to team-mates who were celebrating enthusiastically on the balcony.
Root was unbreachable in defence and considered off front and back foot as he safely dealt with the unpredictable surface, avoiding a repeat of the reverse ramp which had gotten him out in Rajkot.
“If the pitch had been truer, I reckon he would have still played those shots,” added Crawley.
“It might have just been the variable bounce which stopped him sweeping and paddling, it wasn’t really the pitch for that kind of thing – it was too inconsistent.
“In Dharamshala (which will host the fifth Test), it’s a flatter wicket, I’d fully expect him to reverse ramp one. That’s just Joe.
“He’s very present when he bats and doesn’t overthink too much.”
England went at 4.63 an over in the morning thanks to counter-attacking knocks from Crawley, who made a run-a-ball 42, and Jonny Bairstow’s 38 off 35 deliveries.
But the tricky surface was largely responsible for England’s precarious position at lunch, with Crawley bowled twice by Akash Deep, the first off a no-ball, as the India debutant bagged a three-wicket haul.
It was then down to Root, who combined with Ben Foakes (47) to put on 113 to stabilise England in this must-win Test.