Former England captain Joe Root became an instant source of amazement for the cricketing fraternity around the globe after he started to bat left-handed on the fourth day of the ongoing first Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi.
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It all happened in the 23rd over of the English innings when Root changed his stance against Pakistan spinner Zahid Mahmood without any fuss. A ploy which lasted for only a couple of deliveries witnessed Root running a single after getting a reprieve by Pakistan fast bowler Naseem Shah at (left-hander’s) mid-wicket.
Root, who hadn’t scored a Test half-century for five months, didn’t let go of a chance of doing the same amid a run fest at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Having scored an effortless 73 (69) comprising of six fours, Root was among the three English batters who scored a half-century at a strike rate of greater than 100 in the second innings.
ALSO READ: Test records at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
In addition to Root, batters Zac Crawley (50) and Harry Brook (87) also scored individual half-centuries to power England to 264/7d in just 35.5 overs. Brave enough to declare with a 342-run lead with four sessions remaining in the match, England’s bold decision has converted this bland contest into a potential result-oriented fixtures.
Tabraiz Shamsi amazed by Joe Root batting left handed vs Pakistan
South Africa spinner Tabraiz Shamsi was among the many notable names who reacted on Root defying his natural stance to bat left-handed in a Test match. Shamsi took to social media platform Twitter to express awe of Root stating how he can’t play the sweep even while batting right-handed (natural stance).
Shamsi, 31, isn’t known at all for his batting. A batting average of less than 10 across first-class, List A and T20 career further validates the same. That being said, the same still doesn’t take anything away Root’s brilliance.
