Ashes 2023: Play of the day from ENG vs AUS Test, Day 4

Joe Root. (Photo Source: Twitter)

There have been plenty of exciting moments in the ongoing first Ashes 2023 Test at Edgbaston. Speaking of which, the day began in a rather ‘bazball’ style manner as England’s mainstay Joe Root began the proceedings with a ramp-shot attempt right on the first ball of the day the batter was facing. The moment took everyone by surprise including the bowler and the Australian captain, Pat Cummins. With England playing their famed brand of game, it was expected Root to try score runs quickly to build pressure over the Australian bowling line-up.

In the same vein, the ravishing batter showed his proficiency at playing the ramp shot at will that too against the pacers. As a result, in the 12th over of the second innings, Root took another route to score runs in a rather freakish manner. The Australian quick Scott Boland bowled a length ball on the middle-leg stump line, however, the English batter shuffled himself for a reverse-ramp shot attempt and just lofts it with enough power to get the ball sail past over the keeper’s head for a mind-boggling six.

Watch the video of Joe Root’s fabulous Reverse ramp shot here:

Joe Root is a freak.
He tries to play the ramp shot on the very first ball of day 4 but misses it and then played it in the second over of the day. pic.twitter.com/ugtSFduI7T

— 🅒🅡🅘︎🅒︎🄲🅁🄰🅉🅈𝗠𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗨™ 🇮🇳❤️ (@MSDianMrigu) June 19, 2023

Joe Root contributed with a good cameo to help England set a competitive target in the first Ashes Test

Interestingly enough, Joe Root kept taking risks every now and then during his 45-run knock in the second innings of England. Besides, he also kept rotating strikes with his partners to keep the scoreboard ticking. During his 55-ball stay at the crease, Root smashes five fours and a maximum, respectively.

But the most unusual yet brain-itching part was his dismissal. Joe Root wanted to up the ante by taking on Nathan Lyon. It was during the 26th over, Root decided to dance down the track to whack Lyon’s shorter delivery on the leg side but failed to connect as he missed the line of the ball. Consequently, Alex Carey made no mistakes in whipping the bails off in a flash to hand Root a stumping mode of dismissal. Notably, this turned out to be the first time when Joe Root was dismissed through a stumping in his Test career.