Pakistan v England 2022/23

Watch: Joe Root switches stance, bats left-handed against Pakistan

by Wisden Staff December 4, 2022 - 9:49am 3 minute read

Watch: Joe Root decided to face up left-handed to counter the leg-side line of Pakistan leg-spinner Zahid Mehmood, nailing a sweep shot.

Onlookers were amazed by the technical brilliance on show from Root, who looked more assured as a leftie than most do with their dominant hands.

The moment came in the 23rd over of England’s second innings, with the tourists having made another fast start, scoring at over a run a ball. In an attempt to combat England’s aggression, Mehmood, on Test debut, opted to employ a leg-side line to reduce the scoring options.

Root’s solution was a simple one: he faced up left-handed. This wasn’t a switch hit, or a reversing of the hands; he simply stood at the crease and played the ball as if he were a left-hander. Which, for two balls, he was.

The experiment was a short-lived one, with Root nailing a sweep shot and dropped at mid-wicket, or extra cover for the right-hander. Still, it was a baffling display of showmanship from one of the most talented batters in the game.