Joe Root's game has changed because of Bazball, reckons AB de Villiers

Star England batter Joe Root has found himself in the crosshairs of criticism, particularly after a rather high-risk shot attempted by him during the ongoing Test series. Notably, in the third Test against India in Rajkot, Root attempted a reverse-scoop but Yashasvi Jaiswal picked up a tricky catch in the second slip that led to his dismissal and triggered England’s collapse. 

Root’s performance in the series has been lackluster, considering his calibre, with just 77 runs in six outings at a frugal average of 12.83. His shot selection, particularly the reverse-scoop, has drawn scrutiny from former cricketers and experts alike as Ian Chappell too criticized the 33-year-old for playing Bazball, which is against his standard nature while being out in the middle.

Read more - Ian Chappell wants Joe Root to ditch Bazball and stay his usual self

Legendary South African batter AB de Villiers weighed in on Root’s struggles, offering a candid assessment. The former cricketer expressed disappointment at Root’s recent string of low scores, emphasizing that the veteran should return to playing his natural, anchor-like game - the very role that makes him the 'glue' of England’s batting lineup. He also went as far as linking Root’s recent struggles to England’s aggressive Bazball approach.

“When I played against him (Root), I felt he was one of the best Test batters I have ever played against. But that has changed and it's because of Bazball. I know it's a big statement but the ones that you find hardest to play against in Test match cricket are the ones who are hardest to get out. And now he is getting out on reverse sweeps and kind of playing out of his norm. I don't like that,” de Villiers said on his YouTube channel.

“Players like these (Root) should be told, 'Listen, you just go out and play your natural game. You are the glue of this batting line-up.' Let Ben Duckett or Ben Stokes play aggressively. Let Root bat long,” he added.

In the interim, England's skipper, Ben Stokes, emphasized that there would be no adjustments to their strategy for the fourth Test, highlighting its proven effectiveness in the past.