The Joe Root and Bazball Conundrum

Having received an absolute thumping in the third Test against India, England needed a resurgence in the fourth one to draw level with the hosts, going into the fifth and final Test of the series to be played in Dharamsala. Given the stakes of the series, it was imperative for the senior players to rise to the occasion and make their presence felt.

The only player who could do that was Joe Root. The 33-year-old has not had the best of series till his performance in the current game. His 122 from 274 deliveries was the real game-changer on Day 2 of the game when his team was struggling at 112-5 at lunch. In contrast to the first three games, Joe Root delivered a distinctly different performance in this match. There is no doubt that the 33-year-old Yorkshire lad is one of the best Test batters in the world, with over 11.4k runs in 139 matches, however, it'll be intriguing to explore the factors that enabled him to return to peak form in this Test match.

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The reason for Joe Root’s success

The England team has now been known for their aggressive counter-attacking style known as Bazball. This has been a tactic that has changed the Test format completely. But maybe, this was not really the tactic that defines the batter in Joe Root. There 's no doubt that Joe Root can play the attacking game as well and we have seen that multiple times in white-ball cricket. However, unlike players like Ben Duckett, Zack Crawley and Ben Stokes who have a natural tendency to play flashy and aerial shots, the same cannot be said about Root. Root has the ability to change gears in his innings, but what defines him as a better is his flawless technique and gifted timing. This is what made the former England skipper one of the most iconic players in the modern era. Early on in the series, we saw the batter playing a lot of shots that he played across the line multiple times. This didn't just affect his dismissal; it also played a role in his timing and shot selection 

Root was looking like a much-composed player in this game. He was timing his shots well and showed great technique. He also capitalised on the loose balls where he was sweeping the spinners well and welcoming the pacers with his beautiful leg glances and cover drives looking like the player we have known for a long time.

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This is not to judge the counter-attacking tactics of the England batters, but maybe for batters like Joe Root, it's better for him to play his conventional brand of cricket. Joe Root, thorugh the ongoing game, has proved why he is regarded as one of the best in the world. Bazball might be a revolutionary of playing the longest format, but maybe Root will be more effective if he sticks to his game, which has made him the successful batter he is today.