Gareth Bland |
Such is the nature of sport at the highest level that Joe Root’s scrutiny of Sir Alastair Cook’s England Test century record will lead many commentators to focus on the Yorkshireman’s supposed Achilles’ heel at Test level – his record against Australia. Of particular concern to doubters is the Dore-born maestro’s record in Australia itself. His overall record of 40.46 against Australia in 34 Tests, which includes 14 matches Down Under in which Root is yet to score a century, averages 35.68. Root’s record against other Test playing nations like India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and West Indies is enviable and is an undoubted statistical testament to his class.
The spotlight on Joe Root’s record against Australia is a natural by-product of the fierce competition in the Ashes. However, when compared to the record of one of his fellow members of “The Big Four” club in Kane Williamson, one of the relative shortcomings in Root’s performance appears less pronounced than it might otherwise appear.
The current assessment of the route comes as part of a year-long saber rattling ahead of another England-Australia clash starting in November 2025. Former Australian left-hander Darren Lehmann and – surprisingly – almost a short man himself – Ian Chappell have weighed in on Root with their opinions on cricket. Lehmann said Root should not be considered the greatest player of all time as he is yet to make a Test ton for Australia and placed the Yorkshireman a notch below Williamson and Virat Kohli. Meanwhile, Chapelli is full of praise for the former England captain.Root was born to run. He’s a joy to watch as he balances solid technique with a desire to nail the punchline at every opportunity.“.
Technically, however, Chappell observed deficiencies in Root’s arsenal that may explain his less than satisfactory record on Australian pitches, claiming:A more worrying statistic for Australia is the number of times he has fallen behind. The keepers hit the jackpot, stopping the edge of the route 10 times in 27 innings. He might counter that he “should be good enough to make a dent in them”, but that suggests he needs to re-evaluate the extra bounce that Australian pitches offer.
It is worth noting that apart from the lack of centuries, Root has scored 9 half-centuries against the Australians. When compared to Kane Williamson, Root’s overall record against Australia is superior at 40.46 compared to the New Zealander’s average of 36.95. Against India, Williamson’s numbers were significantly inferior, averaging 37.86 for 20 overs, compared to Root’s 58.03. On the other hand, against the opposition, Root averaged 54.06 compared to Williamson’s 39.62 against England.
Against South Africa, West Indies, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, the Kiwis have a statistical advantage over the Yorkshiremen. But Williamson’s average of 62.82 against South Africa and the Englishman’s average of 46.53 against the same opposition do not embarrass Root. The same goes for direct comparisons against Pakistan (66.04 and 49.34), Sri Lanka (74.02 and 62.54) and West Indies (60.62 and 56.03).
Where Williamson has a clear advantage is that he has amassed two Test hundreds against the Australians. Regarding Ian Chappell’s thoughts on Root’s adaptability to Australian surfaces, the New Zealander is acknowledged to have a very specific approach that is quite different from his peers. Williamson’s initial movements, pushing forward and avoiding exaggerated lunges, are firm but not as pronounced as those of his contemporaries. Equally important is the ability to play the ball late.
Ricky Ponting said Williamson:Not making much progress in the future” And he said “I hit the ball later than anyone else.“. Former England captain Nasser Hussain assessed Williamson’s technical abilities, noting the economy of movement, hand position and footwork that underpinned his success. Developing the theory of the imaginary “box”, Hussain said:Imagine a round box sitting just below waist level. If you get your hand outside that box, you’re playing the ball early. If you can keep it in the box, you’re playing late.”
Positioning your hands outside the virtual “box” increases the chances of following the ball outside the off-stump and creating a ‘keeper and slip’ opportunity, Hussain argued. Hussain had no doubt that it was this compactness that contributed to Kane Williamson’s success. Perhaps a similar adjustment by Root on Australian wickets will pay dividends and give credence to Chappelli’s view that the Englishman needs to reassess the bounce of that surface.
It was a method praised by Ian Chappell that ultimately delivered Joe Root’s much sought-after result in the Ashes Century. It is a technique shaped by modern times, but also a technique that starts from basic principles, and at its core, it is a method that is a product of Yorkshire Sword, which produced some of the greatest striking technicians in the history of the game. Sir Leonard Hutton by Neville Cardusblueprint in his mind” He could easily have described Joe Root almost 70 years later.
Stylistically, Root’s Yorkshire cricket pedigree is evident in everything from his light grip on the handle of the bat to his spread-leg stance at the crease, while his balance on the balls of his feet is reminiscent of Sir Geoffrey Boycott himself. Alert, lying on his side, and moving from foot to foot fore and aft with ease and dexterity, Root displays a classicism that goes back to Hutton and Sutcliffe, Boycott, Bill Athey and now, in a very typical way, Harry Brook. His home county.
If you watch footage of Mike Gatting’s England winning tour of Australia in 1986/87, the similarities between Athey and Root are striking. Of course, Root’s talents are of a rarefied nature in contrast to Athey’s narrow operating mode, but Yorkshire’s essential boilerplate of stance, footwork and positioning carries the hallmarks of the White Rose County.
Williamson Root’s busy personality and innovative stroke play are indicative of a player who has thrived in a multi-format cricket environment. So the breathtaking classical strokes that were once a typical feature of Root’s British ancestors such as Hammond, May, Cowdrey, Dexter and Gower are probably not at the forefront of his repertoire. Instead, Root audiences will admire the placement of the ramps and their inverse repetition. Both strokes are difficult to imagine his illustrious predecessor attempting. The pioneering Dexter may have added such a shot to his range.
Joe Root is England’s greatest modern-day player and a current batting giant. The difference between his overall record and his numbers against Australia is certainly evident, but not as stark as Ian Botham’s record against the West Indies and his achievements against the rest. If the Yorkshireman takes part in Ian Chappell’s observation next winter, perhaps his wait for a Test hundred against an old foe will be over. In a week where Root and fellow Yorkshireman Harry Brook topped the men’s ICC Test batting rankings, his followers will take heart that the modern-day batting great still has a lot left in the tank and perhaps has a bit to prove. .
