England’s batting maestro joe root and spinning star Jack Leach were seen engaging in a hilarious moment on Day 1 of the ongoing 2nd Test against Pakistan at the Multan Cricket Stadium.
He england cricket team has already made a strong statement by winning the first Test in Multan convincingly by an innings and 47 runs, despite Pakistan’s valiant effort.
Joe Root and Jack Leach’s hilarious moment steals the show in Multan Test
In the first match of the three-match Test series, the Multan pitch was a batting paradise and offered little to the players from the start. However, England’s bowlers, along with their ruthless batting line-up, outclassed the Pakistan cricket team and take advantage of every opportunity.
The English team now looks to carry their momentum into the second Test, for which the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is using the same surface they used during their team’s humiliating defeat to the tourists in their own backyard.
However, this pitch for the second Test has a lot to offer, and England are using three spinners in the match against Pakistan. Pakistan captain Shan Masood, after winning the toss, decided to bat first against England in the ongoing Test in Multan.
Joe Root’s peculiar tactic to shine balls goes viral
However, the plan did not go as expected, and the home team quickly found itself in trouble, losing two early wickets to Jack Leach.
England spinner Jack Leach took two wickets in his first three overs to leave the Pakistan cricket team frustrated in the first session of Day 1 of the ongoing Multan Test.
Leach became the first England spinner to take wickets in the first ten overs of a Test match since 1889.
Meanwhile, Jack Leach not only grabbed the headlines for his remarkable achievement in Multan but also attracted attention when Joe Root was seen using his head to shine the ball.
During the opening day of the second Test between England and Pakistan in Multan, Joe Root was seen rubbing the ball on spinner Jack Leach’s bald head. England Cricket shared the video on their social media to show how Root used a unique method to shine the ball.
Watch how Joe Root playfully shines the ball using Jack Leach’s head here:
Shiny head 🤝 Shiny ball pic.twitter.com/2yqEESpaeu
– England Cricket (@englandcricket) October 15, 2024
Joe Root finds the best ways to make the ball shine 🤣 pic.twitter.com/nUnI58voVI
– Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) October 15, 2024
Interestingly, this was not the first time Root had tried this fun move. He had pulled a similar stunt with Leach during England’s last tour of Pakistan.
Since the use of saliva to shine the ball was banned following the COVID-19 pandemic, players have had to find creative ways to keep the ball polished and in condition during play.
Players use their sweat to shine the ball during matches, and Root has adopted this unique way to not only shine the ball but also provide fun moments for the spectators.
England must secure victory in their next four Test matches to improve their chances of qualifying for the final of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25.