Alastair Cook has been breaking a number of records during the ongoing tour of India, like becoming the quickest batsman to 11,000 runs (in terms of career time-span) but that’s largely due to the fact that he’s been on the cusp of breaking these records, and not due to his outstanding performances in the series.
With the captain struggling against spin, particularly against Ravindra Jadeja, who he fell prey to for the fifth time in the series early on day 1 of the Test at Chennai, Joe Root has had to handle a lot of responsibility for the team’s batting performances.
It is a role in which the 25-year-old right-handed batsman has excelled, seeming largely at ease through the tour and scoring runs at will. He is the second highest run-scorer in the series after India’s Virat Kohli and has scored 4 fifties along with a hundred so far.
On a good batting wicket at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, he excelled, finding runs easy to come by as he worked his way to the 80s. There was a word of caution from the commentary box for Root, as stats revealed that he is susceptible to getting out during the 70s – 90s run bracket of his innings quite often. His dismissal, that was to follow is the 17th time he had been dismissed in that set of runs.
India go with Jadeja’s instinct
Ravindra Jadeja perfectly exemplifies the new, modern Indian cricket team with his aggressive, in-your-face style. His vociferous appeals often put umpires under pressure, but also put his captain, tasked with judiciously handling the 2 reviews under extreme pressure as well.
Watch: Kohli’s game pays off as DRS sinks Root
After taking Cook’s wicket, he was bowling beautifully.
He trapped another left-hander, Moeen Ali, right in front during the 34th over of the game and was hounding the umpire to raise his finger, which wasn’t forthcoming. The keeper, Parthiv Patel, who has a good view of these things, wasn’t impressed. Kohli took a gamble, but the ball hit Moeen Ali much outside off.
He comfortably survived. A wasted review.
India go with Jadeja’s instinct – Part 2
Root was batting with Ali, upping the ante and pushing England’s score upwards after showing extreme caution during the first session of the day. Ravichandran Ashwin did produce a few beauties, but nothing to really trouble the batsmen.
Root, especially, looked set for a big one.
In the 55th over of the game, Ravindra Jadeja bowled a wide, full delivery to Root. The batsman launched himself into the shot, attempting to sweep it aggressively, but not making contact with the ball, the bat making a ‘swoosh’ sound due to the force with which the shot was played.
Parthiv collected the ball, and just moved his hands towards the stumps, standard wicket-keeping practices. Root didn’t flinch as the ball passed him, never looking in doubt, as he mentally prepared for the next ball.
Kohli, at first slip, was absolutely convinced he heard a sound, and along with Jadeja, he was screaming his lungs out for the decision to be given. The umpire, Marais Erasmus, didn’t flinch.
After a small committee meeting comprising of captain, keeper and bowler, Kohli decided to opt for the DRS. He asked the umpire how many he had left, and upon knowing he had only one, shrugged his shoulders almost to say ‘yeah, what the hell, let’s go for it’.
Ultraedge technology sinks Root
India’s late decision to use the DRS on a trial basis for the England series came with a rider. Due to the lack of preparation, HotSpot technology would not be used, but rather, the more primitive UltraEdge technology was to be used for bat-pad and lbw decisions.
When Root was playing the shoot, as the bat moved towards the ball, UltraEdge showed a spike, leading to a large cheer from the crowd. It was clear that the bat wasn’t in contact with the ground at the time, enough to convince the third umpire to ask the on-field umpire to reverse his decision.
The controversy about the decision stems from the fact that there was absolutely no change in Joe Root’s body language, no appeal whatsoever from Parthiv Patel and the batsman’s reaction when being given out. Normally one to keep his calm, he was irate, shaking his head vigorously and even kicking the boundary rope as he went out.
While the UltraEdge did signal him out, the question must be asked of whether the technology is good enough, or whether India should have taken ample measures to ensure the much more efficient HotSpot technology was in play for the series.
What makes matters worse is the controversial wicket of Ben Stokes from the previous match is still fresh in the memory, where the bat was in contact with both the ball and the ground at the same time, and with the UltraEdge only picking up a signal when there is a contact, irrespective of the source of such contact, it led to all sorts of confusion.
For now, India were the victors and Joe Root would be denied a century. But there is to be a fall-out after India’s trial with the DRS, that is for sure.
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