Veteran all-rounder Ben Stokes, heavily impressed by Joe Root’s ability to play spin, said after the end of the second day’s play that half in which the England batsmen were not able to face such spin bowlers like their captain.
Root, playing his 100th Test in the first match of the four-match series against India scored his fifth double century and also became the first batsman to score double hundred on his 100th match.
Played on instinct I guess (that first six off Ashwin). Something I’ve been working on. Getting right down the wicket or getting right back. Today initially it looked like a typical subcontinent wicket. But as soon as Nadeem got a couple of balls to turn and bounce out of the rough, I had to make a decision. I decided I would rather get out caught at deep square leg than in timid fashion at short leg, “said Stokes after the day’s play.
“Root is in incredible form. To play like that in alien conditions is incredible. Looking back at my dismissal, I probably would’ve tried to hit a bit straighter. Pleasing to win the toss and put a total on the board,” added the all-rounder.
“I didn’t need to help him much. He himself analyses his game and works on different plans. During the IPL, he played a lot of spinners. He practiced against offies, left-arm spinners and even leg-spinners. He has the uncanny ability to play for hours and is good in different aspects of the game”.
Ben Stokes also contributed with his 82 runs and stood for a partnership of 200 runs along with the captain Joe Root. Virat and Company will be looking forward to end the match in a draw now.