English wicket-keeper batsman Jos Buttler heaped praise on his skipper Joe Root and said that his knock of 186 runs against Sri Lanka in their first innings of the second Test match was a treat to watch and called it a masterclass against spin.
Continuing his red hot form from the first Test-match English skipper Joe Root, in reply to Sri Lanka’s first innings score of 381, scored his second century of the series.
The former was looking set for another double hundred until was run out on 186 as he was unable to drag his exhausted, cramping body back into his crease in time after nudging Dilruwan Perera to short leg, where Oshada Fernando fired the ball back onto the stumps with an excellent throw.
Root’s innings of 186 allowed England to breathe as it took the overnight total to 339/9 and reduced the first-innings deficit to 42 runs after Lasith Embuldeniya claimed seven wickets with his left-arm spin that bamboozled almost everyone, except Joe Root.
Jos Buttler praised Joe Root’s knock of 186 runs and said that It has been a masterclass on batting against spin.
"Yeah, quite an amazing innings by Root, to back up his double hundred in the first Test with a 186-run knock, both physically and the mental application was there to be seen. It has been a masterclass on batting against spin, it has been an education for all of us, we thoroughly enjoyed it," said Jos Buttler during a virtual press conference shared by ECB after stumps on day three.
Buttler further praised Root’s confidence and skill level and said that his skill level is second to none.
"All the eight days of cricket so far in this series, he has been on the field almost every day. Especially in this game, it has been a lot hotter and it has been draining. Root played amazing shots, it shows his confidence and skill level, it was great to watch, his skill level is second to none. His drive and determination to take the team forward have been pleasing to watch," he said.
Apart from skipper Root, Jos Buttler was the only English batsman who managed to register a 50 plus score. The former went on to stitch an 88-run stand with Root in the middle until the wicket-keeper batsman was dismissed by Ramesh Mendis for 55 runs.
Speaking on his knock of 55-run knock Buttler said, "It was a disappointing way for me to get out, I enjoyed batting with Joe Root in the middle, I enjoyed my time in the middle. It feels a lot hotter in this game, Sri Lanka is challenging conditions as we have ever faced, so it adds to the magnitude of Root's innings."
However, with his knock of 186 runs, Joe Root surpassed Kevin Pietersen to become the fifth-highest run-scorer for England in Test matches.
(ANI inputs)
