England vice-captain Ollie Pope praised Joe Root for his consistency after the former captain ended Day 1 of the third Test versus India at Lord’s unbeaten on 99 runs. Pope said Root continues to inspire the dressing room with the way he carries himself and added that he hopes the latter goes on to score a big hundred on Friday.
Root was the star for England on Thursday on the opening day of the Lord's Test, guiding the hosts to 251/4 at stumps after early wickets. He walked in at 44/2 and batted for over five hours, playing patiently on a slow Lord’s pitch. His 99 not out included nine fours and helped steady the innings after India made early inroads.
Coming into the match with a quiet series so far, Joe Root showed his class again. It was his 67th Test half-century and he now stands just one run away from his 37th Test hundred. If he gets there on Friday, he will go past Steve Smith for most Test centuries among active players. It would also be his 11th Test ton against India, equalling Smith’s record.
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Ollie Pope Lauds Joe Root’s Classy 99* on Testing Lord’s Pitch
Ollie Pope spoke to the BBC after stumps and praised Root’s influence on the team. He lauded his work ethics and called him an inspiration.
"Joe Root has inspired everyone in the changing room and in this country. His work ethic and the way he goes about his cricket is inspirational over such a long career. Fingers crossed he can make it a massive one tomorrow," Pope said as quoted to the BBC.
Root held the innings together while others got starts but could not convert. England captain Ben Stokes joined him late in the day and was unbeaten on 39 at stumps. In the final over, Stokes turned down a second run that would have taken Root to his hundred, possibly due to a groin issue.
Root will resume Day 2 on the brink of another milestone. If he gets there, it will further add to his outstanding record and put England in a strong position in this Test.
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England Play Anti-Bazball Cricket
Unlike their usual aggressive style, England played a much more cautious brand of cricket at Lord’s.
This approach was very different from their usual Bazball strategy, which often involves fast scoring and attacking play. On a slow pitch and against a strong Indian bowling attack, England chose patience over flair.
They scored at the rate of just three runs per over, which has been very rare in the Bazball era. It would be interesting to see how they go about their business on Day 2.
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