Ben Duckett came to Joe Root’s defense, stating that criticism of Root’s reverse scoop, which led to his dismissal on Day 3 of the IND vs ENG 3rd Test in Rajkot, was unwarranted.
Ben Duckett, England’s opening batter, defended Joe Root’s reverse scoop, which led to his dismissal on Day 3 of the 3rd Test against India in Rajkot, suggesting that it’s similar to any other dismissal and should not be overly scrutinized. Duckett emphasized Root’s exceptional skill in executing the shot, stating that it had previously been successful during the summer without facing criticism.
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Root’s dismissal triggered a dramatic collapse for England, who went from 224/2 to 319 all out, conceding a significant first-innings lead. Despite Root’s struggles in the series, failing to score a half-century in five innings, Duckett expressed confidence in Root’s abilities, referring to him as a “freak” who can perform feats beyond the reach of many players.
“Rooty is a freak and does things a lot of us can’t do. In my eyes that dismissal is the same as playing a drive and nicking off. He plays the reverse scoop so well and I’m sure a lot of people weren’t [criticizing it] when it worked in the summer,” Duckett said to TNT Sports.
Duckett also credited India for their effective tactics, acknowledging that England’s aggressive batting approach didn’t yield results. Despite England’s strong performance the previous day, India’s bowling was formidable, offering little opportunity for scoring.
India capitalized on their lead, with Yashasvi Jaiswal’s century and a quick partnership with Shubman Gill extending their advantage. England managed to break the partnership late, but India’s lead has significantly expanded to 322 runs with eight wickets remaining.
Last Updated on February 17, 2024
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