Joe Root’s exceptional batting performance in the ongoing Test series against Sri Lanka has left the hosts scratching their heads for a solution. With scores of 42, 62 not out, 143, and 103, Root has been the cornerstone of England’s dominance.
Root’s mastery against Sri Lanka is evident in his impressive average of 67.55 against them. In his previous series against the same opposition, he notched up scores of 186 and 228, showcasing his ability to dominate on Sri Lankan pitches.
His technical prowess is evident in his skillful sweeps and reverse-sweeps, as well as his proactive approach against seamers. When he chooses to defend, Root’s technique is considered one of the best in the game.
Sri Lanka’s team discussions have been dominated by the question of how to dismiss Root. Senior batter Dimuth Karunaratne revealed that they have tried various plans but have been unsuccessful due to Root’s consistent excellence.
“We’ve tried a few things against Joe but they were always unsuccessful,” Karunaratne said. “I think the turning points in the matches have been those Joe Root innings.”
Karunaratne believes that Sri Lanka may need to adopt a less aggressive approach against Root. “Maybe sometimes we attack him too much and he takes advantage of that,” he said. “Some players don’t like it when we ask them to be less aggressive. Sometimes boring batters out can also be a tactic.”
However, Sri Lanka’s problems extend beyond Root’s dominance. Their senior batters have failed to make significant contributions, with only six fifties in 16 combined innings. Karunaratne, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, and Dhananjaya de Silva have all had fifty-plus scores but have not made a lasting impact.
“The seniors have talked a lot about how to perform and ease the pressure on the juniors,” Karunaratne said. “The juniors have been doing well, especially Kamindu Mendis. Some people adapt very fast to conditions and some struggle.”
Karunaratne emphasized the difficulty of batting in Sri Lanka, citing the struggles of England’s openers and No. 3 batter. “In England the conditions are tough for batters, and we saw that even their openers struggled, as well as their No. 3,” he said. “Apart from Joe Root the others also struggled despite this being home conditions for them.”
