‘Had one played such a shot at domestic level, his career might’ve gotten over’ – RP Singh lambasts Joe Root for poor shot selection

Joe Root is rated as one of the finest batters in modern-day cricket. His numbers speak volumes of his quality and consistency. However, he is going through a rare lean patch during the ongoing five-match Test series between India and England.

In England’s first innings of the third Test in Rajkot, Root was dismissed for 18 by Jasprit Bumrah, who has had the upper hand against the former England captain in recent times. However, what surprised many was the way in which the experienced batter gave his wicket away.

Bumrah, who was in the middle of a probing spell, bowled a full delivery outside off-stump. Root went for the reverse-lap, a shot he has played with considerable success over the last 12 months. However, this time, he could not connect properly and the ball went off the edge of the bat to Yashasvi Jaiswal at second slip.

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The audacious shot looks great when it comes off but when it doesn’t it raises eyebrows. Former Indian pacer RP Singh minced no words in criticising Root’s shot selection, stating that if someone had got out like that in domestic or club cricket, his career might have gotten over.

“The shot Joe Root played, if someone had played such a shot at domestic or club level, his career might have gotten over. He would have been asked to first correct things and come as you can’t play like that,” RP Singh said on Colour Cineplex.

This was the third time Bumrah dismissed Root in the series and ninth time overall in Test cricket. Singh reckoned that the unique shot was premeditated by Root as he had found it difficult to negotiate the Indian vice-captain’s bowling with orthodox cricket.

“I am not able to think how the support staff would see that shot. I never thought such a compact player would play this shot and that too against Jasprit Bumrah. He might have thought two days ago that he would try something unique as Bumrah was anyway dismissing him,” he added.

Also Read: Ben Duckett defends ‘freak’ Root’s shot selection in Rajkot