Zak Crawley on Joe Root: “Even before I came to the sidelines, I was always amazed at how easy, elegant and agile he was at scratching. He rarely overlooks. with lots of dot balls, always looking for ways to keep things going. It’s the whole package ”
Le Zak Crawley
Last updated: 28/01/21 6:26 pm
Zak Crawley talks about Joe Root ‘s remarkable form in Sri Lanka, how high he runs 186 his captain in the second Test, and what the Yorkshireman looks like as a leader behind the scenes…
Joe is easily one of the best players in the world and if he bats in the same way again in India over the next few months we are going to be in a good position.
I commented on how well he swept the spinners and how he handled the field in the column last week but played two big innings – 228 in the first Test and 186 in the second – in the that heat said a lot about her stamina, focus and desire to score. He seemed to be drowning all day as if he were nothing.
1:05 Michael Atherton takes a look at the excellent form of England captain Joe Root in Sri Lanka and how Kane Williamson had showers in his bat
I think the second knock was better than the first one, I think it was the best knock I’ve seen alive.
Joe deserved two hundred doubles, for sure, so ran out late on day four sculpting. After a very good work from Oshada Fernando at the short leg he had to go. I think this was the only thing they were going to get out of it.
I know Michael Atherton said that Rooty can challenge Sir Alastair Cook ‘s running record for England in test cricket and I really think that’s what it is. He’s only 30, fit as a violin, and has plenty of years left.
1:06 Nasser Hussain says England are a capable team that plays cricket in the right way and is led by a ‘big ambassador’ in Root
Even before I came into the side, I was always looking at how easy and elegant he got his scratches and also how fast he scored.
He seldom overlooks it with lots of dot balls, always looking for ways to keep things going. He is the complete package.
Joe overtook Sir Geoffrey Boycott, Kevin Pietersen and David Gower on the England runners-up list during the Sri Lanka series, which is a great achievement.
Because its textures help us to win, it will be more enjoyable for the personal milestones. That said, the double whammy of both makes it very likely he’s on cloud nine right now!
5:09 Root says England showed ‘maturity, poise and calm’ in their six-wicket victory in the second Test in Galle
You could see he wasn’t going to settle for fifty or sixty and he wanted to go big and put him in the right position for when the ball started to turn to the end of the game and things became difficult. It was so disciplined, so clinical.
It’s great for the young lads, encouraging us all to talk to him or other key players, but I love watching him train and try to pick up little things. With Joe, there’s a lot I can pick up. He leads from the front and we all try to follow in his footsteps.
As captain he always talks to the team, letting us know what he wants from the day, but he’s also really good with the one-on-one chairs. He makes sure he makes sure everyone is okay and what’s going on in our heads. He will never take a back seat with his leadership.
On days that didn’t go so well, he won’t shout, he will face off calmly. He knows that players at this stage know when they have had a bad day and that not much debate is needed.
Joe is also a big thank you to the fans – even though we only had one in Sri Lanka!
We play for the people of England, to entertain them and we have to be thankful for the support we get. Joe is a real driver there and that showed by the fact that he personally wanted Rob Lewis to thank him.
1:22 Root has named England fan Rob Lewis, who stayed in Sri Lanka for almost a year to see the team play, to thank him for his support (photos: ECB)
As I said in an earlier column, I am so lucky to have so many good key players around me in the England team and Stuart Broad and James Anderson showed their class again in Sri Lanka.
For them to get their awards on wickets that didn’t offer much shows of their skill. It’s amazing to play with them and see their work up close and personal.
They have strong beliefs in the things that they do and I think that is crucial at this stage, that is what separates the big from the good and those two are definitely good. Ben Stokes ’pick up on Jimmy, Broady and Rooty for the series in India is a huge boost
I’ve watched the India vs England series since I was a little kid and I wanted to play in them, especially over there. It’s going to be an amazing experience against some world-class players and I can’t wait to find out.