S Poddar
As the defeat flared against England, who were crushed by Australia in the second one-day international at Headingley, Joe Root was blissfully unaware, taking his son out for a stroll at Bramall Lane. The disparity could be lost only in that that shows how imperative it has become in the current England cricket team to inject fresh blood, while the potency of qualities displayed by Joe Root are yet to be bypassed.
Basically, his pragmatic approach to batting remains the heartbeat for the English team, especially in one-day internationals. The way he takes on a match after a match and literally banks runs contrasts vividly with the jitters increasingly being seen in the top order. Up front, England again appeared vulnerable against New Zealand here, and at one stage, their inability to form a few extended partnerships exposed a rather glaring absence without Root’s midfielding influence.
What is ominous is that the strength once prided about England in One-Day Internationals, marked by aggressive batting and shot-making without fear, seems to be under threat. The recent Australia series laid bare the vulnerabilities of a batting order which once thrived on partnerships and strategic runs accumulation. It is not going to be an easy thing to fill the hollowness radiating when a player of the calibre of Root is missing from the No.3 slot.
Root has always demonstrated that he can stabilize an innings while responding to the needs of the match in question. Style, being one that underlines both patience and opportunism, which has been proven vital in a scenario where a team is up against bowlers who could exploit every weakness that exists, is also an attribute that, though hard to come by, is more an asset of experience and the ability to read the game well.
Suddenly, the latest performances of England have set agendas for the potential ODI side to be built ahead of the next World Cup. With the young cricketers yet to settle in the arena, the presence of a mature player like Root will acquire weight. In such a case, the enormous talent covered with the new generation can go along with such stability and maturity under guidance from Root.
The seasoned campaigners often are the one to turn the tables when going through adversity. The case is no different for Root, in that his presence within the team not only strengthens the batting line-up but also makes a fine mentor for players who would want to navigate their way through the complexities of international cricket. It is a person with a calm head, not just a strategic mind, which in times of crisis and lack of stability in the current set up seems to be really lacking.
As England look to a few vital matches ahead, the question now: should the selectors get Root back into the side or the way for new approach? Answer seems simple. To embrace fresh faces is more than just essential; it is rather in the best interests of the team for long-term possession. Experience and skill cannot be discounted too. Root is a player who can connect the dots between reckless youthful exuberance and savvy tactical play.
And apart from his batting, the role of Root extends beyond that. He has showed some true leadership qualities and been able to handle those pressure situations that form a decisive part of a team’s equation when they are in a constant struggle to display a consistent performance. It is here that the team, confronted with that situation by struggling to perform consistently, makes a huge difference when such a player is present.
In short words, at this transitional phase, it is well known that Joe Root has the ultimate commanding position in the team. It is because of a mix of technical expertise and some experience along with temperament at a particular stage of time when he makes the team marshals its spirited effort to regain its lost strength. It would indeed turn out much more potent without him. A model of past success would be a little more irresistible.
For instance, Root’s pragmatic style of accumulating runs should remain the current ODI template and are vital to foster. He pretty much reminds us that sometimes experience is worth more than raw talent. The above current doom and gloom scenario can continue for the rebuilding team or can it? Whereas Root will surely have a rock-solid role to play for the whites to regain control over ODI supremacy.
