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Joe Root Reveals Why He Didn't Play a Single 'Reverse Scoop' During Ranchi Century

image-lt03wio1Joe Root playing reverse scoop | Source: X.com

England is striving to maintain their foothold in the five-match Test series as they face off against India in the fourth Test match at JSCA International Cricket Stadium, Ranchi. Choosing to bat first, they managed to post 353 runs on the scoreboard before being dismissed. 

However, credit must be given to England's former Test captain, Joe Root, for his exceptional performance. Root's unbeaten 122 runs off 274 balls, embellished with 10 boundaries, proved instrumental. 

Root, who received a standing ovation from the Ranchi crowd as he made his way back to the England dugout, remaining unbeaten at the start of the second day, elaborated on his innings and discussed how he refrained from attempting the reverse scoop shot, which had subjected him to intense scrutiny during the Rajkot Test match.


Playing scoops at Ranchi wasn't a great option: Root

"I must admit it did briefly cross my mind, but on that wicket it's not a great option. It was a fleeting and selfish thought that left my mind very quickly. If you look at the previous wicket [in Rajkot], it wasn't as bad, but it was unfortunate it kept a little bit low. But that's how it goes sometimes." 


I’m Better Than That - Root On Getting Out While Playing Reverse Scoop

After England got brutally thrashed by India in Rajkot, the English media and cricket experts like Sunil Gavaskar went to town on Joe Root for his questionable shots that cost him when England needed him the most. 

"Certainly the execution of the shots has weighed on me. Not necessarily the selection but the execution. I'm better than that. Batting is about outscoring the opposition, scoring more runs to give yourselves the best chance of winning. If you get out, you're out, and it doesn't matter what it looks like." 

The 33-year-old, deviating from the 'Bazball' approach, asserts that he tailored his game to suit the circumstances and meet the demands of his team when they needed him the most. 

“That's how I try and play every game really. Trying to play the conditions, the situation of the game. And it was very, very obvious what was needed in that situation on that surface. And thankfully, it paid off.”  

By the end of second day’s play, India had accumulated 219 for 7 in their first innings, still lagging behind by a significant 134 runs with Dhruv Jurel and Kuldeep Yadav standing tall. Yashasvi Jaiswal top scored with 73 runs from 117 balls.