Zak Crawley showered compliments on Joe Root after his resilient century on the opening day of the fourth Test against India in Ranchi. The Kent batsman expressed sheer delight for Root, highlighting that his innings was exceptional and unique, suggesting that Root’s caliber stands unmatched within the team.
Root played a pivotal role in England’s recovery, scoring a remarkable century to steer the team from a challenging position of 112-5. This was his first century in the series and his 31st century in Test cricket. He reached the milestone in the 84th over of the day, securing it with a boundary.
We fully expected him to go out and get runs in this game- Zak Crawley
At a press conference following the day’s play, Zak Crawley expressed unwavering faith in Root’s capabilities despite his recent challenges. The 25-year-old emphasized that Root’s hard work has paid off, leading to his remarkable performance. According to ESPN Cricinfo, Crawley stated,
We’re chuffed for him, to be honest. We never doubted Joe. We just think if he gets couple of lowies. He’s even more due than before, so we fully expected him to go out and get runs in this game.
“He deserves everything he gets. He works so hard at his game, and he always comes good. He’s probably the only bloke in our team who could have done that knock. He’s that good. He’s our best player, and he’s stepped up when we needed him to.”
Prior to the Test, the 33-year-old faced scrutiny due to his below-par performances, with particular attention drawn to his unconventional reverse scoop shot in Rajkot which attracted criticism. Nevertheless, Root silenced his critics by ending the day unbeaten on 106, guiding the tourists to a commendable total of 302-7.
It was nipping a lot and nipping quickly- Zak Crawley
Zak Crawley noted that the new ball had significant movement, prompting the team to adopt an aggressive approach early on. Despite this, he commended the middle-order batsmen for their adept handling of the spin bowling.
It was nipping a lot and nipping quickly. I was trying to bat normally at the start and it was seaming, too difficult. I felt there was one with my name on it.
“So we had to throw a couple of punches back, and myself and Jonny did that really well actually. Then it got easier, but it was tricky against the spin for the middle-order boys, and they judged that really well. They read the situation and played unbelievably.”
Root forged a vital 113-run partnership with Ben Foakes, who contributed 47 runs, stabilizing England’s innings. He then combined with Ollie Robinson for an unbroken 57-run stand to further strengthen England’s position.
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