England’s bold and attacking style of batting has been the talk of the cricket world, with much of the discussion focused on the transformation brought about by Bazball. While many of the players have been a part of this new approach, one player who stands out is Joe Root, whose reverse-lap shots have stunned critics and fans alike.
During the ongoing Ashes Test, Root continued to wow the crowd with his reverse scoop sixes, pulling off an audacious shot against Pat Cummins. With England in a slightly precarious position, Root’s reverse scoop for six was a bold move that exemplified England’s bold and confident approach to Test cricket.
Under the Ben Stokes-Brendon McCullum leadership, England has experienced a resurgence in Test cricket, winning 11 of their previous 13 Tests, including series victories against New Zealand, South Africa, and Pakistan. During this period, they have scored at an astonishing rate of 4.86 runs per over.
While Root’s Test career has already been impressive, with an average of 50.78 and a strike rate of 56.41, his scoring has improved significantly since the introduction of Bazball. Since June 2022, Root has accumulated an average of 68.40 in 14 Tests, with a strike rate of 76.10 and five centuries.
In the ongoing Ashes Test, Root finished unbeaten on 118, a performance that included seven boundaries and four sixes, with a strike rate of 77.63. His reverse scoop six and England’s daring declaration have been one of the highlights of the first day of the test match.
This is not the first time Root has impressed with his reverse-lap shots. In a test match against New Zealand in Nottingham, Root played a remarkable reverse scoop six off the bowling of Tim Southee, stunning fans and commentators alike.
Root also executed this shot to perfection during the final Test of the home series against New Zealand. This time, he pulled it off against Neil Wagner, playing a vital role in securing England’s third successful run-chase in a row.
Root made it a hat-trick of reverse-lap shots in as many games, executing the shot off Shardul Thakur during the final Test against India in July 2022, where England completed a remarkable run chase of 378.
Root’s outstanding performances, coupled with England’s new and bold approach, have set the cricket world alight. As the Ashes Test continues, fans and commentators alike are eagerly anticipating what new and daring shots Root will pull off next.
