Former South Africa Batsman and captain, AB De Villiers, also known as Mr. 360, took to X (formerly Twitter) to applaud. England No. 4 batsman Joe Root for returning to his usual style of Test batting which helped him score over 11,00 Test runs. He was heavily criticized for modifying his game and being influenced by the aggressive Bazball style of Test cricket, invented by none other than Brendon McCullum and Captain Ben Stokes.
Having come into the five-match Test series tour of India as the most experienced batsman in the group, Joe Root had failed to show his quality and class in the last three Tests in Hyderabad, Vizag and Rajkot. In fact, he looked like a shadow of his former self and the batsman who has scored the most runs in the red-ball format for the Three Lions here.
“Let the rest play BazBall” – AB de Villiers suggests Joe Root
AB De Villiers, who retired from the longest format after scoring 8765 runs in 114 Test matches, thanked Root for reclaiming his true colors and playing according to the orthodox style of Test cricket. De Villiers stated that he should continue to bat in “glue mode”, staying in the middle as long as possible and letting others play Bazball style.
“This is the Joe Root mode that allows you to win Test matches! Glue mode. Let the rest play Bazz Ball. Good start from India. Good fight by the Engineer. Getting ready for a good test match.” – De Villiers wrote in X.
This is Joe Root mode that allows you to win test matches! Glue mode. Let the rest play Bazz Ball.
Good start from India. Good fight from the Engineer. Preparing for a good test match
—AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) February 23, 2024
And certainly, Root has been at his best today, perhaps saving the best for last. He was a key missing link in the English batting line-up, which is still under pressure as no batsman apart from him has been able to make a significant contribution in England’s first innings.
Joe Root could well become the last man standing in the innings. England’s second-highest run-getter in Test cricket will look to extend his stay in the crease as long as he can, as batting for two full days sets the stage nicely for teams batting first.
During England’s previous tour in 2021, Root had scored a double century in the first Test in Chennai, but this time, before the fourth Test began today, the right-handed batsman had made much more of an impact with his off-spin bowling than he . with the bat.
Joe Root smashes 31st Test ton and 10th against India
Thanks to his old-school style, Joe Root scored his 31st Test, his 10th against India and his first since June 2023. He last scored a century against Australia during the 2023 Ashes series in England, as remained 118* in the first innings. of the test in Birmingham.
Since then, Root had scored only 2 half-centuries and had come as close as 84 and 91 in terms of chasing a century. Joe Root is currently strengthening at the crease along with number 9 Ollie Robinson as England close in on the 300-run mark.