Follow UsJoe Root is going to be a big factor in England’s success in the upcoming five match Test series against India. He is the most successful batter against India, scoring 2846 runs, the most runs by any batter against team India in Test cricket.
Taking Root’s wicket will be top priority for team India as history has shown him tiring the Indian bowlers and piling up runs for fun. He has the most fifty plus scores against team India, going past the 50-run mark in 21 occasions.
However, the good news for India is that Root is not unassailable. Here are three possible ways India can dismiss the English talisman early.
Jasprit Bumrah is a primary weapon for team India in this upcoming series. He has excellent numbers against all England batters, specifically Root: he has dismissed the right-hander nine times in 24 innings. Only Pat Cummins (11) and Josh Hazlewood (10) have dismissed Root more times than Bumrah has.
Out of the nine dismissals against Bumrah, Root has gotten out seven times to him inside the first 60 deliveries of his innings.
Looking at the seven dismissals of Root against Bumrah inside the first 60 balls, the pitch map indicates that five of the seven dismissals have been on good length deliveries pitching in the fourth or fifty stump region. This has made Root go for a backfoot nudge resulting in edges going for a simple catch to the slip cordon.
Root has not had the best of times facing left arm pacers in his home as records since 2022 show Root getting dismissed by left pacers six times in 17 innings, averaging just 30. This can be a big temptation for team India to give Arshdeep Singh a Test cap.
According to the beehive, the dismissals of Root have been largely on the stump line as the left arm pacers have prevented him from driving the ball down the ground or through covers, resulting in edges and lbw dismissals. Thus, he averages just 16.3 on the stump line since 2022.
The right-arm pacers have managed to dismiss Root early by bowling back of length deliveries, often putting him under doubt whether to wait for the ball or go for an expansive pull/cut stroke. An average of just 16 on the back of length region in first 60 deliveries gives a clear indication on how to operate against Root in the early stages of his innings.
Making Root go for expansive shots early on must be the mantra for right arm pacers (RAP) to dismiss him as records show him getting out the most while attempting a pull shot. This indicates that the right-arm pacers must go back-of-a-length and keep a couple of fielders in the square leg region. Root has been out gloving the ball to the keeper on multiple occasions too.
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