Former Australia pacer Mitchell Johnson opined on Joe Root’s approach to adopt the Bazball style with the bat. The former English captain has been the team’s best batter in red-ball cricket but has struggled in the ongoing five-match Test series against India.
Apart from his century in the first innings of the fourth Test, the right-handed hasn’t done much. Root, who is known for his technique and temperament, has tried to be aggressive against the Indian bowlers, which has backfired.
However, the 33-year-old player returned to traditional cricket in the Ranchi Test and accumulated 122 runs off 272 balls.
Johnson, who is known for his outspoken nature, wrote about Root’s aggressive batting template under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum in a column for nightly.
“Joe Root has suddenly become the most talked about cricketer after his reckless shot against Jasprit Bumrah. Stokes and McCullum have defended their player,” Johnson wrote.
The former pacer compared Root’s batting technique and temperament to Aussie batters Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne.
“Root is England’s Steve Smith or Marnus Labuschagne. He is England’s correct player. Root needs to stay at the crease to score runs for the team.”
Johnson suggested that Root should play the game in a traditional way
“Joe Root is England’s best player and he doesn’t need to play Bazball as England have several attacking players in the squad.”
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