Joe Root fell in memorable fashion on opening day of the day/night Test at Mount Maunganui, failing to execute a reverse scoop six deliveries after successfully pulling the shot off.
Three balls after tea, Root audaciously reverse scooped Neil Wagner for four to get the former England captain under way in the second session. Shortly afterwards, his batting partner Ollie Pope fell to the bowling of Tim Southee, edging a good length ball to Tom Latham at second slip.
With England 154-3 on a good batting surface, Root then attempted to repeat the trick three deliveries after Pope’s dismissal, Root’s sixth since his successful reverse scoop.
This time, to a delivery further outside off stump, it was Wagner who prevailed as Root could only edge the ball through to Daryl Mitchell at slip.
Root’s dismissal continues his uncharacteristically quiet run with the bat in Test cricket. Since his fourth innings hundred against India at Edgbaston last summer, Root averages 18.50 with the bat from seven Tests.
Watch Root successfully reverse scoop Wagner for four:
Audacious from Joe Root 😮#NZvENGpic.twitter.com/uzB74B39Rr
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) February 16, 2023
Watch Root fall playing the same shot:
The reverse scoop doesn’t work this time for Joe Root…#NZvENGpic.twitter.com/AFfCshKKNH
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) February 16, 2023
