Joe Root was happy to contribute to England’s success in the second test against Black Caps on Saturday while he also praised his batting partner Harry Brook, saying he had the finest seat in the house to watch the youngster bat.
Joe Root was happy to contribute to England’s success in the second test against Black Caps on Saturday. He also praised his batting partner Harry Brook, saying he had the finest seat in the house to watch the youngster bat.
Having gone without a century since his 142 not out in the Birmingham Test against India in July 2022, Root registered his 14th 150-plus score and was involved in a record 302-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Brook.
“I felt like I owed that to the group. It’s been a while since I made a solid contribution. To be part of such a big partnership was pleasing and I think the best thing was I had the best seat in the house to watch Harry go about his business. It’s a joy to watch him play at the minute. He certainly made my life a lot easier out there, the way he manages to wrestle momentum in our favor and constantly put bowlers under pressure.
“When he comes and plays as he does – if you slightly over-pitch he hits you over your head, if you miss short he goes midwicket, he’ll back away and hit you through the off side – it’s difficult to know where to bowl with him. When you get down the other end it just feels like there’s less pressure on you, and more opportunity to get him back on strike and down the business end,”
said Root.
“I felt we had a really good understanding, we negated a few modes of dismissal by getting down the crease. We fed off each quite nicely and made it difficult for them to bowl one length for us.”
England started Day 2 at 315/3 and Brook was lost early on. But Root’s 153 and useful contributions from Ben Stokes and the lower order helped the visiting side go past 400.
Root praised captain Stokes for choosing the declaration well, as it allowed England to bowl seven overs at New Zealand before Lunch, giving Anderson enough time to pick up the wickets of Devon Conway and Kane Williamson.
Anderson added Will Young to his wickets tally after the break while Leach got amongst the wickets in the second session.
“I think it was a brilliant call from Ben,”
Root said about the declaration.
“It felt like that 40 minutes before the break, the sun was out, and with 40 minutes of sun, a heavy roller, and 40 minutes of sun at lunch, it might have changed the wicket. It didn’t work out like that; it gave a better opportunity to make the most of the conditions. The way we’re playing at the minute with the confidence we’ve got, seeing the ball move around with the No. 1 Test bowler, the two leading wicket-takers we’ve ever had, it just seemed a very brave and attacking option. Full credit to Ben, as you’d expect, for taking it on.
“He’s just walked so naturally into the role, he’s managing the game well and everyone is responding to it. I just think was a brilliant call from him, it would have been very easy for us to keep going and we might not be sat here with them seven-down tonight. Credit to him, he’s doing a great job,”
Root said.