Joe Root followed up his 228 in the first Test with 186 in the second Test.
Joe Root has found a dark purple patch against Sri Lanka in the two-Test series in the island nation. The England skipper top-scored for England in the first Test with 228 that they won by 7 wickets and took an unassailable 1-0 lead in the series.
Root didn’t stop there and backed up the double hundred with another daddy hundred but got out, missing his double century by just 14 runs. Root’s 186 was a display of his class, temperament, and skill that showed he’s ready to take on India in India from next month.
Former Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara was all praise for the England skipper. He believed that Root played an innings that everyone should from. He also opined that his gameplan was magnificent and the execution was clinical.
Sangakkara told Sky Sports, “Outstanding. Everyone has been amazed at how easy he has made it look. Not just in this innings, which is probably an easier pitch at this stage, but also the first Test.”
“Magnificent gameplan, the execution was clinical, the use of the sweep, the reverse sweep, the rotation of strike, the technique, the poise, the calmness, everything was incredible. It was brilliant to watch and to learn from,” he added.
The 43-year-old also mentioned that every player and/or coach should learn from the way Root conducted himself in the middle.
“You can score runs but maybe not have that same poise or ease that Joe Root had. He has worked on it and read the situation and pitch and he was in total control. For me or anyone batting or a coach, the execution and way he handled himself all throughout the day was a great learning experience,” he said.
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Last but not the least, Sangakkara pointed out that Joe Root applied himself yet again knowing that he had scored a double hundred in the previous game and this another skill that one should learn from the England skipper.
“To back up his double hundred in the first Test, to show the physical and mental application to go and do it again it was a masterclass in batting against spin.
It has been a great education for all of us and we have thoroughly enjoyed watching him and gutted for him to get out in that fashion at the end of the day," Sangakkara said.
(With inputs from Sky Sports and PTI)