The cricket world was shocked when former England captain Joe Root tried to reverse scoop Pat Cummins on the first ball of Day 4 of the first Test of the Ashes in 2023.
Joe Root is known as a test expert. Notably, the cricketer has adopted England‘s “Bazball” mindset well and is now playing an aggressive style of cricket in Test cricket, which wasn’t his natural game for a long time. Root, on the other hand, didn’t give up when he failed to make a link the first time.
The cricketer tried the same thing again in the second over of the day, but this time it worked in his favor. He hit Scott Boland for a six and then a four, which made the captain, Pat Cummins, change the way the pitch was set. At the end of the day’s play, England’s veteran pacer Stuart Broad said that Root had a similar plan before he went to bat and that he didn’t change his mind, even though he was hesitant at one point.
“The goal was pretty clear from the first ball. I sit next to Rooty in the locker room, and he says, “I want a reverse scoop six on the first ball.” I told him, “If it’s in your gut, you’ve got to go for it; that’s what we’re all about.” “He said, ‘Ah, I’ll decide when I’m leaving,’ so it’s clear he didn’t change his mind,” Broad told Sky Sports.
For our first hitter to show the power of intent: Broad also said that the rest of the team was happy to see Root, who is one of England’s best batters in Test cricket, play such brave cricket. The cricket player also talked about Brendon McCullum’s message to them, in which he told them to get out at long on instead of while defending.
“That kind of plan made us all laugh in the locker room. When one of our best batters plays in this bold way, it sends a strong message to the rest of the team.
“Brendon McCullum tells us that he’d rather catch us at long on than when we’re out protecting. for our lead batter to show that the power of purpose is strong. “And in the third over of the day, when the third man comes back from the slip, you’re kind of ahead right away,” said Broad.