PAK vs ENG: England batter Joe Root is known to bat right-handed. However, on Day 4 of the Rawalpindi Test, he made a mockery of the “dead” wicket by batting left-handed. Though the stunt lasted for just an over, it was enough to grab the eyeballs of the cricket fraternity. Nasser Hussain, the former England captain, was on-air at the time and was simply stunned with the way Root took the strike and batted left-handed against Pakistan spinner Zahid Mahmood. Follow PAK vs ENG LIVE updates with InsideSport.IN
Joe Root decides to bat left-handed 😳#PAKvENG | #UKSePK pic.twitter.com/GOvnkof54B
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) December 4, 2022
PAK vs ENG: Joe Root makes MOCKERY of Rawalpindi Pitch, turns LEFT-HANDED batter for an over in 1st Test, Watch Video
Root switched his grip from right-hand to left-hand and swept Zahid Mahmood, which nearly resulted in him losing his wicket. He dropped by Naseem Shah at the mid-wicket position. Root, a couple of balls later, decided to turn back to his original grip and batted right-handed. He also collected a boundary later.
However, it was Mahmood who had the last laugh. Joe Root was dismissed for 73 after Imam-ul-Haq held on to a catch at the fine leg position, while playing a conventional sweep shot.
It was not the knock, but Root’s ability to play left-handed caught the attention of the whole world.
Joe Root simply bats left handed. Remarkable pic.twitter.com/CXUr3dLCS8
— Will Macpherson (@willis_macp) December 4, 2022
PAK vs ENG: Joe Root makes MOCKERY of Rawalpindi Pitch, turns LEFT-HANDED batter for an over in 1st Test, Watch Video
Joe Root is not the first batter to change his grip while batting in a Test match. Indian batting legend Sunil Gavaskar also batted left-handed against Karnataka, while representing Mumbai in the 1982 Ranji Trophy semi-final.
England in command on Day 4
The visitors are currently bossing the game against Pakistan. England have scored 264/7 at Tea as they have now gained a lead of 342 runs. The Three Lions scored at a run rate of 7.37. For England, Zak Crawley, Root, and Harry Brook have stroked fifties with the bat. The visitors have declared at the Tea giving a target of 343 to Pakistan to win the first Test. The home team will need to bat out of their skins if they want to save or win the first Test match in the fourth innings.
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