Tag: Joe Root

RAWALPINDI: Former England Test skipper Joe Root ruled out the possibility of his teammates becoming ill as a result of food poisoning ahead of the first Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi on December 1. 

On Tuesday, some of the England players including captain Ben Stokes, reportedly, have fallen ill and were told to restrict their movement to limit the risk of spreading the virus. An ECB spokesperson, however, confirmed that the illnesses were not Covid-19 related, with players experiencing vomiting and diarrhoea.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday at Pindi Cricket Stadium after the team’s final training session before the first Test, Root insisted that there was nothing to be blamed on their team chef as the players’ illness was not related to the food.

“It is unfortunate we are in this situation, but we don’t think it is food-related,” he said. “I don’t think there is any correlation between the two and in fact the chef is ill as well, so I don’t think it is the food.”

England’s team brought their own chef, Omar Meziane, in order to take care of the players’ diet during the historic Test tour of Pakistan.

“The thing is we have been carrying a chef away for a couple of years. If you look at the international teams, especially England, they all have their own chefs. We optimise ourselves and we see it from a nutrition point of view as well,” he said, responding to the reporter’s question.

Moreover, Root denied any possibility of picking up corona virus, claiming that he also felt ill but recovered within a day.

“As far as I’m aware there are a few guys not feeling 100 per cent but – I didn’t feel great yesterday but I woke up better today – so hopefully it’s just a 24-hour virus and I don’t think it’s food poisoning or Covid or anything like that,” he added.

When asked about the player’s readiness for tomorrow’s match, Root said: “It’s hard to say, I’ve not seen anyone this morning, we’ve literally got straight on the bus so the guys will do everything we can to be right in that aspect, so time will tell really.”

“We’ve prepared really well for this game and sometimes life throws things at you but we’ll do everything we can to be right tomorrow and be right and ready to go,” he added.

Pakistan Cricket Board, however, confirmed in a tweet that discussions were underway between the ECB and PCB regarding the commencement of the first Test after some England players reported viral infection.

England and Pakistan will contest a three-match Test series with the second scheduled in Multan beginning on December 9 and the final game in Karachi from December 17-21.

READ: Babar hopeful to compete against ‘full strength’ English side in first Test

DUBAI: Former Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene made a major prediction regarding the top-ranked white ball batter Babar Azam and asserted that he can replace England’s Joe Root as the World No.1 Test batter.

Jayawardene, in the latest episode of ICC Review, backed the Pakistan captain in response to the host’s question about whether Babar can replace Root as the top-ranked Test batter.

“Tough one!” Jayawardena said. “I would say Babar Azam has an opportunity. He’s been consistent in all three formats and it shows in his rankings. He’s a naturally gifted player, plays in all conditions, he’s got the game to adapt as well.

It depends on the amount of cricket, who’s playing when, and how much but the Babar might be the guy.”

Babar is the only batter in the top three across all formats and recently revealed his goal to top the charts in each format. The right-handed batter is ranked first in both ODIs and T20Is, while is third in the longest format of the games. Jayawardene, on the other hand, expressed his belief in the ability of Pakistan and stated that the former can pull this off.

“T20Is and ODIs, it is a tough one to hold on to because there are a lot of good players who have to be consistent,” Jayawardena said.

“As long as he can be that, because he has a very good role to play in that Pakistan setup – they have batters to bat around him, so he can play his own game – he should be able to hold on to that and at the same time, push himself to get better.

“He batted well in Sri Lanka. I think Prabath (Jayasuriya) was his nemesis – he got him three times out of the four innings. That was a very good battle to watch. Babar got a really good hundred in the first Test match.

“He’s always going to push himself to get better. Seen in a couple of his interviews recently that it is his goal as well to be No 1 across the table. There’s no harm in challenging yourself to get there.

“Being the captain as well, he has taken responsibility and performed, which is great to see. (It’s) Not an easy thing to do.

“I would put my money on him at least for a little while to hold to all three but there are some good quality players around who will keep pushing him.”

It is pertinent to mention here that Root has the opportunity to solidify his hold his position as number one. Babar, however, will don the white jersey in Pakistan’s home assignment against England, later this year.

READ: Lahore Stadium AstroTurf removed for renovation: Sports Minister Punjab 

BIRMINGHAM: Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow blasted magnificent centuries on the final day of rescheduled Test to propel India’s defeat after England sealed a historic chase of 378 runs to level the series 2-2, here at Edgbaston.

With their incredible 269-run partnership in the rescheduled fifth Test, England’s steady duo of Root and Bairstow ended India’s hopes of winning the Test series in England after a 15-year dearth.

Resuming their run chase at 259/3, Bairstow and Root carried the momentum of their overnight partnership and displayed no signs of rusting.

Root and Bairstow, who were unbeaten on 76 and 72 respectively, soon amassed their centuries as they seemed unmoved by the Indian bowling attack.

The pair ticked the scoreboard at a rapid pace as they scored the required 119 runs in less than 20 overs to seal their historic run chase in Tests.

Root top-scored for the side in the second inning with his magnificent knock of 142 off 173 deliveries, laced with 19 boundaries and a six. Bairstow, on the other hand, bettered his last inning’s century with another as he remained unbeaten on 114 off 145 balls with the help of 15 boundaries and a six.

For his centuries in both innings of the match, Bairstow was adjudged as the Player of the Match. Whereas, Root was named the Player of the Series for his 737 runs and two wickets.

READ: ‘I don’t like injustice’ Warner’s wife questions captaincy ban by Australia

DUBAI: England’s in-form batter Joe Root has ended Marnus Labuschagne’s reign as the top-ranked Test batter as he dethroned the Australian in the latest ICC Test Batting Rankings.

Labuschagne, who rose to the top in December last year following his brilliant knocks of 103 and 51 against England, has been usurped by the English batter at the head of proceedings.

Root, who is in sublime form in the red-ball cricket has scored four centuries in the ongoing year so far. He also became just the second Englishman to complete 10,000 runs in the longest format of the game.

Following his wonderful run, the 31-years-old managed to leapfrog Labuschagne to claim the top spot; having a total of 897 rating points, five more than Labuschagne in second place.

Labuschagne, however, may get the chance to reclaim his top spot as Australia tour Sri Lanka to play a two-match series later this month but Root also has a busy period of Test cricket ahead of him.

READ: Bairstow, Stokes’ heroics help England pull off dramatic chase on final day

KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif predicted England’s in-form batter Joe Root to come close to Indian batting great Sachin Tendulkar’s record of most runs in Test cricket.

England’s top batter Root, who is in sublime form in the longest format of the game has sparked the debate about him smashing Tendulkar’s all-time record of highest runs in Test cricket by amassing 10,000 runs in the format.

Following Root’s astounding feat several cricketers have come out with their predictions about whether the former England Test captain will be able to break Tendulkar’s record as ex-Australian captain Mark Taylor was the first to back the former to break the record.

The renowned commentator and the former English captain Michael Vaughan also supported Taylor’s prediction later and termed Root the favourite to break the record of the most runs in Test cricket.

The former Pakistan captain Rashid, now has also joined the debate and predicted that Root will surely come closer if could not break the record.

“It’s something you can predict. Some of these players such as Virat Kohli, Babar Azam and Joe Root, these players can score 1000s of more runs [as] they have so much time. Root will be eyeing Tendulkar’s feat. See, certain players left the game a little early or were not in great form,” Latif said on the YouTube show Caught Behind.

“Jacques Kallis and Ricky Ponting could have come close but for Root, it is important to be in the same form. If in the next 2-3 years, he can score 1200-1300 runs, he can come close. By the time he is 34-35, he may have the hope that he can go past it. Even if he can’t cross, he surely will come close,” he maintained.

It is pertinent to mention here that Root became just the second English batter and the joint youngest to amass 10,000 runs mark in Test cricket after his preceding captain Alastair Cook.

Furthermore, Tendulkar holds the record for most Test runs with 15,921 in 200 matches, whereas, Root has scored 10,015 runs thus far in 118 Tests.

READ: Croatia sink France hopes to retain Nations League title after 1-0 triumph 

LONDON: Former Australian captain Mark Taylor backed England’s batter Joe Root to break Sachin Tendulkar’s record of most Test runs, stating the former has a minimum of five years left in him.

Root, who recently completed 10,000 runs in the longest format of the game amid the recently-concluded Lord’s Test, has got a major motivation as the former Kangaroo captain backed him to break Indian batting great Tendulkar’s record.

“Root has a minimum of five years left in him, so I think Tendulkar’s record is very achievable,” Taylor told Sky Sports.

“Root is batting as well as I have ever seen him bat over the last 18 months to two years. He is in the prime of his career, so there are 15,000 runs-plus for him if he stays healthy,” he added.

Following his stunning century knock in the Lord’s Test, Root joined the exclusive club of the legendary batters with more than 10,000 runs in Tests.

Tendulkar, who leads the chart with the most runs in the format (15,921 runs) got a new challenger for his astonishing record as the former English captain Root is the nearest current day player having just gone past the 10,000-run mark himself at an age of 31 years.

Age when reaching 10,000 Test runs:

Sir Alastair Cook:
31 years & 157 days

Joe Root:
31 years & 157 days

🤯 pic.twitter.com/m1ujC9aOMg

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 5, 2022

 

It is pertinent to mention here that Tendulkar also achieved the 10,000-run mark at 31 years of age and continued to play Tests until after his 40th birthday.

READ: Tuba, Bismah nominated for the ICC Women’s Player of the Month

LONDON: England’s right-handed batter Joe Root has decided to step down from the captaincy, following the side’s dismal performance in the recent series against West Indies and Australia.

Root, who captained England in the record 64 Test matches, has decided to resign from his position after his side’s below-par performance in the longest format.

England, currently ranked fifth in the ICC Test Team Rankings have now lost nine consecutive matches with the latest being the 10-wickets defeat against West Indies.

In a statement released by the England Cricket Board (ECB), Root claimed after getting the time to reflect, he made the ‘challenging decision’ of his cricketing career.

“After returning from the Caribbean tour and having time to reflect, I have decided to step down as England Men’s Test Captain. It has been the most challenging decision I have had to make in my career but having discussed this with my family and those closest to me; I know the timing is right,” the statement quoted Root.

“I am immensely proud to have captained my country and will look back on the past five years with enormous pride. It has been an honour to have done the job and to have been a custodian of what is the pinnacle of English cricket,” he added.

“I have loved leading my country, but recently it’s hit home how much of the toll it has taken on me and the impact it has had on me away from the game,” he concluded.

After the horrible Ashes 2021-22 campaign, many former England cricketers slammed Root and asked him to step down from the captaincy but he wished to continue then but has now decided either way.

During his five years as England captain, Root scored 5,295 runs – the most by an English captain – and also hit 14 centuries.

READ: Pakistan Cricket Board unveils busy 12 months schedule for national sides

DUBAI: Pakistan’s prolific run-getter in 2021 and pace ace Shaheen Shah Afridi are alongside England’s captain Joe Root and New Zealand’s skipper Kane Williamson in nominations for International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s Cricketer of the Year. 

In a tweet on Saturday, ICC nominated the four cricketers who dominated the world of cricket in 2021.

Performance

Mohammad Rizwan: 1915 runs in 44 internationals at an average of 56.32 with 2 centuries. 56 dismissals

Shaheen Afridi:

78 wickets in 36 internationals at an average of 22.20. Best bowling figures of 6/51

Joe Root: 1855 runs in 18 international matches at an average of 58.37 with 6 centuries

Kane Williamson: 693 runs in 16 internationals at an average of 43.31 with one century

READ: Quinton de Kock announces retirement from Test cricket

KARACHI: England’s captain Joe Root was much closer to breaking Pakistan’s Mohammad Yousaf’s record of most Test runs in a calendar year. 

Root, who lost The Ashes 3-0 as England’s captain on Tuesday, raised high hopes for his fans to break the record of Yousuf by scoring 50 runs in the first innings of the third Test against Australia.

His 53rd Test half-century took his runs tally to 1680 in a calendar year. In the second innings, he managed to score just 28 runs that saved Yousuf’s record for the 15th consecutive year.

Former Pakistani Test captain Yousaf scored 1788 runs in Test cricket in 2006, which was the highest-ever in a calendar year.

READ: Root, Ashwin make it to ICC nominations for ‘Test Player of 2021’

DUBAI: International Cricket Council (ICC) has released nominations for the ‘Test Player of 2021’, A Sports reported. 

In a press release, ICC nominated England’s skipper Joe Root, Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, Sri Lankan Test captain Dimuth Karunaratne, and New Zealand’s pacer Kyle Jamieson.

The four cricketers have been nominated following their eye-catching performance in the running year.

Joe Root: 1708 runs in 15 matches with six centuries

R Ashwin: 52 wickets in 8 matches at an average of 16.23. 337 runs at 28.08 with one century

Kyle Jamieson: 27 wickets in 5 matches at 17.51. 105 runs at 17.50.

Dimuth Karunaratne: 902 runs in 7 matches at 69.38 with 4 centuries

It must be noted here that ICC will announce further nominations in different categories of all three formats of the game.

READ: ‘Australia committed to tour Pakistan’ CEO Cricket Australia