Joe Root wasn’t at his best in Headingley. Yet, he managed to score 81 runs across two innings, which included an unbeaten half-century during the 371-run chase. For the last couple of years, Root has found a new level. He’s scoring hundreds almost as easily as Virat Kohli runs twos in ODIs.
Joe Root’s love affair with India
Such has been his standard that despite not looking at his fluent best, Root scored 81 runs and we see it as some sort of a failure. The former England captain has always fancied playing against India. Having made his Test debut against them in 2012, he had scored a fifty in the first outing and remained unbeaten in the second.
His love affair with India has remained since. Root averages over 45 in India and over 75 when he played them in England. If that isn’t scary in itself, his record at Edgbaston should send shivers down Shubman Gill and co.’s spine.
Hands down, Birmingham is Root’s favourite hunting ground. Runs flow more easily from his bat than a hot knife cuts through butter. He has a behemothian average of 70.77 at Edgbaston.
But if you are an India fan, it’s much worse. When he takes them on there, it goes up to 89. These are the numbers Don Bradman would be happy with. Of course, the Indian management wouldn’t be pleased one bit.
Joe Root Test record at Edgbaston against India
| Inns | Runs | Avg | 100s | 50s | HS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 16 | 920 | 70.77 | 3 | 5 | 142* |
| India | 4 | 267 | 89 | 1 | 1 | 142* |
Unlike the past, under their new Bazball approach, England have also started to create a lot more batting-friendly surfaces. On the last day of the Headingley Test, chasing 371 didn’t seem like a big deal at all. If a similar pitch is rolled out in Edgbaston, who knows if Root’s average soars even higher?
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