With each passing day, England’s fresh approach to Test cricket under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum is leaving the audience more in awe of their exciting brand of cricket. While Stokes and Jonny Bairstow have thrilled fans with their aggressive batting, even Joe Root, who is considered to be the more traditional Test batsman, is getting in on the act. During Day 4 of the ongoing third Test against New Zealand at Headingley in Leeds, as England chased down 296 to complete a series sweep, Root struck out a humiliating reverse-scoop to fast bowler Neil Wagner, leaving Twitter in awe. Gone.
Left-handed Wagner, running over the wicket, bowled a full and across the root, and the star England batsman was quick to switch stance and hit the ball over the third man boundary.
The England Cricket Board shared the video on Twitter, writing, “Joe Root. You are ridiculous.”
Watch: Joe Root’s audacious shot off Neil Wagner’s ball
Joe Root. You’re funny.
Scorecard/Clip: https://t.co/AIVHwaRwQv
#ENGvNZpic.twitter.com/0YIhsZ5T04
— england cricket (@englandcricket) 26 June 2022
The shot sent Twitter into a frenzy, with fans applauding England’s “ridiculous” approach to the longest format of the game.
BazBall = Ridiculous Test Cricket
— alexandra hartley (@alexhartley93) 26 June 2022
England chasing 296 for a 96/2 win and Joe Root 6 is the reverse sweeping seamer for the incredible positivity and confidence that McCullum has instilled in this team
— ryan burl (@ryanburl3) 26 June 2022
Brendon McCullum’s impact is good and truly on the England batsman – Joe Root hits Wagner for a six. pic.twitter.com/j0tqM45LkM
— mufaddal vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) 26 June 2022
ROFL! Joe Root chasing 300 runs in the fourth innings of a test match to a fast bowler for a six in a reverse scooping match in great balance!!
Please help improve this article or section by expanding it. https://t.co/fUxDnc0zB4
— Agent Vikram (@SriniMaama16) 26 June 2022
I didn’t expect this kind of behavior from “Joe Root”
The English Test team seems to be trying to bring their white ball influence into Test cricket by taking their Test game to a different dimension with the hawk influence.
Is this the beginning of the “new Test cricket”?
Time will tell. https://t.co/zzkJLOL17z— Poornama (@iam_poor9) 26 June 2022
Brendon McCullum – Test cricket should be made sexy.
Joe Root – *hold my beer* #ENGvsNZpic.twitter.com/7utvWlbwi5
— Vedanta (@thatcrickettguy) 26 June 2022
I really can’t explain this shot. We are on a run chase and he has the guts to pull this shot.
Absolutely insane from Joe Root.
https://t.co/GOgE34GglM
— Cannon (@TheSmugCannon) 26 June 2022
Joe Root, who has already scored two centuries in the season, ended the day unbeaten on 55 while Ollie Pope was batting on 81. England were 183/2 at stumps on Day 4, needing another 113 runs to win the match and a complete 3-0 whitewash at the Kiwis.
New Zealand scored 329 runs in their first innings thanks to Daryl Mitchell’s third century in as many matches of this series.
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However, Jonny Bairstow’s scintillating 162 off 157 balls and Jamie Overton’s 97 not out took England to 360 and took a 31-run lead in the first innings.
After half-centuries from Tom Blundell, Tom Latham and Daryl Mitchell, New Zealand set England a target of 296 runs.
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