If there’s one positive that can be taken from England’s dismal showing in the 2013/14 Ashes series, it’s the steely resilience of baby-faced batsmen Joe Root.
The 22-year-old Yorkshireman stood up heroically to an Australian bowling onslaught, lead by the ruthless pace of Mitchell Johnson on day four of the second Ashes Test match in Adelaide.
Some critics have suggested that the England batsmen have been backing away from the sheer pace of Johnson in fear of having their heads taken off in the blazing Australian heat.
Not Joe Root.
Brave Joe stood up when it mattered most, displaying the fight of a proud Englishmen giving the fight back to the Aussies with the three lions roaring on his chest.
Root even managed a cheeky giggle at Johnson throughout their duel, which came to an end in an unlucky state for Root when he tickled an inside edge onto the thigh pad that bounced up and was well caught by Brad Haddin.
The Johnson that had just roared through the remainder of the England top order. The Johnson, who had for the whole of the Ashes series bruised, bullied and battered the England batsmen to a state of absolute mental depletion.
Johnson glared at Root, exchanging words after every ball, smoke snarling from his flaring nostrils.
And still, the young lad who resembled a quirky playground schoolboy, giggled.
It was fascinating stuff, and it provided perhaps the most entertainment on a day that was, aside from Root’s bravery, completely one-sided.
Root was far from giggling nervously. The young lad showed no signs of anxiety within the fiery cauldron that the flat Adelaide wicket had become under Johnson’s command.
Root genuinely thought that his ability to blunt Johnson’s attack and leave him snarling was funny.
This wasn’t a frail young schoolboy afraid of his opposite, but a highly gifted Test batsman giving it as good as it got and backing down to no-one.
Root knew that he was winning the battle when Mitchell Johnson started chirping. The anger in the big Australians face was there for all to see, but Root remained completely focused despite his tendency to enjoy a cheeky giggle.
It was an innings that England fans needed to see. Jonny Bairstow has been given chances, but he has not yet looked capable of consistently performing for the English.
Ravi Bopara and Eoin Morgan are now preferred in shorter forms of the game, and the excellent Jonathan Trott has gone home.
England desperately needed someone to stand up in the number three position and Root did exactly that.
This was only Root’s second half century since his masterful 180 against the Aussies at Lords during the previous Ashes series.
Despite the youngster falling short of what would have been a memorable century, he showed all the signs of an established Test batsman that is capable of turning up the quality anywhere in the England batting line-up for many years to come.
Perhaps it wasn’t a huge surprise that Root played Johnson better than any of his fellow batting colleagues. As a young player his reflexes should be sharp and his natural game suits fast bowlers like Johnson.
He plays naturally off the back foot and doesn’t look to hit the ball too hard. Something you definitely don’t need to do when facing the pace that Johnson has produced so far this series.
Root did become slightly worried when he began attempting to drive length balls through the off side. With every play-and-miss Johnson became more agitated, yet in the face of adversity Root remained calm.
Other Test cricketers of Root’s age would have been unable to stand up to a pace attack of Australia’s quality for this long.
The youngster’s patience under pressure and ability to pick his shots and not be tempted into the hasty pull or hook shot (unlike his colleagues) was commendable.
Root was playing so well that his wicket eventually came as a surprise. He could not be faulted for his means of dismissal, unlike many of the England batsmen.
Root’s inning provides the England camp with some hope that they possess the quality to blunt the Australian pace attack.
Whilst Root’s effort ultimately had no effect on the game, it portrayed a sense of fight that England will look to take in to the third Test when they begin their fight back in Perth.
Eddy Bramley
Roar Pro
Cheers for the update Boz
Eddy Bramley
Roar Pro
Cheers RWB. Hopefully the lads can pull something spectacular out of the hat in Perth!
Eddy Bramley
Roar Pro
I don't think you can credit Mitchell Johnson's sledging to his performance. He's been given MOM twice because he has bowled spectacularly and he would have taken the wickets he took even if he hadn't run his mouth. To be honest I feel like the Aussies are getting very cocky very fast. They've only won 2 test matches. Lets not forget that they previously got thumped in India and England.
AlanKC
Guest
Sledging may be meant to be clever and funny but the reality is that by far most of it is neither. Which is why, when someone writes an article about great sledges, the same old stories are dredged up time and again or alternatively, given fresh life by assigning them to a different (newer) player. Most of it is banal at best and boorish if not. I'll just add that it wasn't so long ago (2011 in fact) that Andy Flower vowed to take action against poor onfield behaviour by the Englad team - short memories are useful I guess. http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/cricket/andy-flower-vows-to-stamp-out-275843
Luke Smyke
Roar Pro
Sledging is designed to put batsmen off their game through intimidation or distraction. With 2 man of the match performances from 2 games i would comfortably concede that Mitchell Johnson's sledging isnt fairing too badly. As for Watson, when teams engage in bouts of verbal accosts one always stands up for his teammates. Fielding sides always have the advantage being 11 against 2. I dont think Steve Waugh or Ian Healy used to bite their tongues when Warnie and Glenn were getting stuck in to oppositions...Nor do i think KP or Matt Prior do when Broad or Andersen unleash their smug comments in the direction of batsman. You cannot denigrate Watson for his involvement in a team effort...thats what teammates are for. On the contrary, you would become concerned if him, Clarke and Haddin werent supporting their big fast bowler.
Eddy Bramley
Roar Pro
David I'm not denying Mitchell Johnson's class at all. He has been the standout player of the series so far, without doubt. It just looked to me like when someone was finally getting on top of him he was getting vocal and that paints a picture of a player who isn't quite capable of taking the rough with the smooth. With regards to Watson, it was not his place to get involved in the sledging, it was Johnson and Root's little battle and it should have been left that way. Once Watson started talking as well the umpires had to get involved and, to me, that shows that Watson's contribution was unwarranted. At the end of the day, despite our opinions, it does make for great viewing!
Morgan Popham
Roar Pro
If you are talking about me I never called them 'whining babies' or 'muppets.' I think you'll find that I called Johnson a 'tool' which is an accurate description. I called Watson and Haddin 'clowns' again this is quite accurate. Then I called the lot of them 'wombats.' Don't get me wrong I am a big fan of sledging, in fact I love it, I've done it myself. But sledging is meant to be clever and funny. Sledging someone after every ball means that the sledging becomes boring and repetitive and it loses its affect. It also makes the bowler look like an idiot. That's probably why Root was laughing. The only sledging I have seen that was worse than Johnson's was Tim Southee when he was getting smashed all over the park by South Africa, now that was just embarrassing.
David
Guest
Good effort from Root - I don't think his scoring rate is important when he's trying to save a game. He looks a natural number 3 to me - able to come in at 1 for not many but I'm sure if it's 1/200, he'll be able to pick up his tempo. However, the most important thing Root did well was handle the sledging. He showed maturity beyond his years and actually showed up the experienced players in the team. Clearly some of the people commenting here wouldn't be able to handle the sledging as they get so easily offended and upset (which of course is the purpose of sledging). The only way to handle it properly is to follow young Joe's lead - smile and concentrate on the next ball. If the rest of the England team does that, we might have a game in Perth. I'm not sure that referring to test cricketers as "whining babies" (especially when he has 2 MOM) or "muppets" is very professional and perhaps you are destined to be a rookie for some time yet.
Steven McBain
Roar Guru
Sorry, maybe I didn't put myself across well, that's not what I'm suggesting. I think there's a huge difference between aggressiveness (playing silly shots) and just being bogged down on nought. All the ex players commentating talk of the importance of rotating the strike and keeping the scoreboard moving. I'm talking about nurdling, nudges and singles, not expansive hooking and pulling and getting out to full tosses. You have to try to score in some way or there is zero pressure on the bowler. It's about finding a balance and I think when Root comes in at first he's far too negative. Just look at how many low scores he has had and the balls faced.
Eddy Bramley
Roar Pro
I'm inclined to agree with both of you here. Yes Root hasn't got going quickly but Morgan is right, that sort of aggressiveness has been England's downfall so often in the series. However, generally Root wouldn't be coming in after 2 or 3 overs. Cook is a world class opener and Carberry has shown he is capable, so if these two do their job and build a strong platform for the first wicket then yes Root should come in and continue to put the pressure on the bowlers. Root didn't have that platform to work on and consequently had to build it himself, and he did so slowly. I think his experience opening the batting for England was valuable for him in this innings.
RWB
Guest
Brave post boys. I feel exactly the same and feel your pain. You never know what's around the next corner so fingers crossed. Keep smiling.
Morgan Popham
Roar Pro
I disagree Steven. I think it's this aggressiveness that has been the downfall of England this series. Look at the dismissals both openers being caught at long leg when trying to save the game, it was madness. If more applies themselves like Root and Bell the Poms wouldn't be down 2-0
Steven McBain
Roar Guru
It was definitely pleasing to see Root score some runs. He's been in danger of living off that one big knock in the Summer. The biggest issue I have with him is his scoring rate when he comes into bat. I know you want to 'play yourself in' but he always seems to have faced 30 or 40 odd balls and have not very many to his name. At some point he's going to get a good ball and he's also putting no pressure on the bowlers whatsoever. I think if he could come in (a little) more positively from the outset it would serve him well.
Morgan Popham
Roar Pro
Correct Bozo
Boz
Guest
2-0
Eddy Bramley
Roar Pro
As a passionate England fan I was getting really worked up by Johnson's torments. He made himself look like a whining baby who wasn't getting what he wanted. He's all smiles when things are going his way, but the first time he wasn't doing well he started chirping. Don't even get me started on Shane Watson, the guy is a muppet. Was good to see Kevin Pietersen put him straight back in his place when he started getting lippy.
Morgan Popham
Roar Pro
Root was the only good thing to come out of the test for England, he looks to be Englands future. Johnson although he bowled really well he acted like a complete tool, thinking he needed to say something after every delivery is just a joke. Root must have seen it as a joke as well which is why he was smiling all the time. That coupled with clowns such as Haddin and Watson constantly chirping rubbish after every ball is enough to drive anyone mad. I'm all for sledging or a good send off when its funny and constructive but these guys are acting like complete wombats. What Clarke said in the first test wasn't sledging as it wasn't clever at all, it was just out and out abuse. Just play the bloody game!