Stuart Broad has revealed that Joe Root’s reverse scoop off the first ball of day four of the first Ashes Test match was premeditated. Root had, in fact, revealed his plans in the dressing-room ahead of the day’s play.
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Root, the overnight unbeaten batter on Sunday, adopted an unusually attacking approach early morning. He attempted a reverse scoop off the first ball, and two more off the next six he faced.
The first ball that he faced, off Pat Cummins, was an attempted reverse hit but he missed as it passed close to his stumps. But he did not give up, and hit a six and a four off similar shots in the next six deliveries to keep the momentum going for the side.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the day’s cricket, Broad confirmed that Root’s hits were not out of the blue, and that he walked out with the mindset to take on the bowlers: “The intent from ball one was pretty clear. I sit next to Rooty in the change room, actually, and he said, ‘I fancy a reverse scoop six first ball’ and I said to him ‘If it’s in your gut, you’ve got to go for it, that’s what we’re all about’.
“And he went, ‘Ah, I’ll decide when I’m walking out’ – so obviously he didn’t change his mind.”
Broad added that batter of Root’s stature adopting England’s new fearless style of play has had a huge impact on the team. “That sort of intent just made us all smile in the changing room. It’s such a powerful thing for our changing room to know that one of our best batters is playing that fearless style.
“What Baz [Brendon McCullum] says to us is he’d sort of prefer us to get caught at long on than out defending. for our leading batter to show that intent is powerful. And the third over of the day you’ve got the third man back out of slip and you’re sort of on front foot straight away.”
