Joe Root’s gritty half-century guided England to a hard-fought five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test at Emirates Old Trafford. Root, known for his free-flowing batting, adopted a more cautious approach, channeling his “inner Nasser Hussain” to anchor England’s chase of 164 on a challenging wicket.
Despite the slow outfield and low bounce, Root remained composed, accumulating runs patiently and forming crucial partnerships with Harry Brook and Jamie Smith. His 62 not out from 128 balls proved invaluable as England overcame a spirited Sri Lankan bowling attack led by Asitha Fernando and Prabath Jayasuriya.
Root acknowledged the difficulty of the conditions, noting that the wicket was “as close to Sri Lankan conditions” as England offers. He also praised the adaptability of his team, emphasizing that “sometimes it’s good to win ugly.”
The victory marked the first of Ollie Pope’s captaincy career. Despite his struggles with the bat, Root commended Pope’s leadership, particularly his tactical decisions during Sri Lanka’s fourth-morning partnership between Kamindu Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal.
Root also lauded Jamie Smith, who followed up his first-innings century with a crucial 39 in the second innings. Smith’s all-round performance, including his exceptional glovework, earned him the player of the match award.
Root believes Smith’s composure and maturity have contributed to his success. He praised the environment created within the England team, which allows young players to thrive.
Despite the departure from their usual “Bazball” approach, Root remains confident in the team’s principles. He hopes to see a return to their more aggressive style in the remaining two Tests of the series.
