Watch: Joe Root out first ball… caught by Alastair Cook
England captain Joe Root made the worst possible start to his English summer by registering a golden duck for Yorkshire against Essex.
The 27-year-old was rested for Yorkshire’s first two games of the season but returned for this fixture against the Division One champions as part of his preparation for the Test season.
But his stay at the crease was the briefest it could possibly have been as Yorkshire collapsed to 50 all out, and it was Root’s predecessor as England captain who took the catch to dismiss him.
3️⃣| Getting the England Captain out for a golden duck… yeah, why not @samcook09!
Caught Chef, Bowled Little Chef! ??#ESSvYOR pic.twitter.com/Y4w84VP59R
— Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) May 4, 2018
It was the third wicket in a superb opening spell by 20-year-old seamer Sam Cook, who ripped out both Yorkshire openers, Adam Lyth and Harry Brook, for 0, before persuading Root to edge a comfortable catch to teammate Alastair Cook at first slip.
5️⃣| Brook, Lyth, Root and now Jonny Bairstow. All in a day’s work for @samcook09! #ESSvYOR pic.twitter.com/B5eUr0n7qL
— Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) May 4, 2018
It’s a troubling start to the summer for Root, who has been speaking to wisden.com about his winter batting struggles.
His England teammate Jonny Bairstow was also out for just 7, clean bowled by Cook, as Yorkshire were bowled out for 50 on a disastrous morning for the visitors at Chelmsford, after Yorkshire captain Gary Ballance passed up the option of an uncontested toss and instead opted to bat first.
He was left to regret that decision as Cook bagged a five-wicket haul, ably supported by Jamie Porter, who took the wicket of Indian overseas player Cheteshwar Pujara, and the Australian seamer Peter Siddle, who saw to Ballance, Jack Leaning, Jack Brooks and Ben Coad.
Image: Twitter – @EssexCricket
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