When sporting activities, including cricket, were halted because of the Covid-19 outbreak, England's Joe Root began practicing batting on one leg to improve his balance, according to his father Matt.
Root, one of the greatest modern-day batters, has been in magnificent form in the ongoing Test series against New Zealand, where he has not only become the 14th batter in the world and the second from his country to score 10,000 runs in the longest format, but he has also surpassed Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar in the list of top run-getters in the traditional format.
Root's father commented on his son's dedication to being one of the best in the world, especially during the pandemic, when describing his preparation.
"During Covid, he (Joe) got one of the Root Academy ball feeders that we have and he'd be there for an hour batting on one leg for balance. There's a video somewhere of him doing it," Matt said on the Test Match Special.
"Joe just loves batting, as a kid, wherever someone would bowl at him he'd be there with a bat. He just loves doing it, he just loves batting." Matt added.
With his 115 not out in the second innings against New Zealand, the former England skipper became the second English batter after Alastair Cook to score 10,000 runs in Tests, as the hosts romped home by five wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
After his 176 in the first innings of the recently concluded second Test, Root surpassed Gavaskar and reached 10191 runs. Root has climbed to 12th place on the list, which is headed by Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar (15921).
England defeated the Kiwis by 5 wickets in the 2nd Test at Trent Bridge to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.
(TEST MATCH SPECIAL INPUTS)
