Joe Root hailed as a a�?world-class playera�� by the England skipper Alastair Cook after his match-winning knock against Pakistan at Old Trafford on Monday.
Cook has acknowledged that batting with Root has encouraged a a�?blocker like hima�? to play his shots in Englanda��s 330 runs second Test victory over Pakistan, to level the four-match Test series 1-1. This would give the English players a huge boost of confidence after their 75-run loss in the opening test match at Lorda��s.
After putting up a colossal target of 589, England bowled out Pakistan for 234 in their second innings, with more than a day left in the match. Root and Cook formed the cornerstone of Englanda��s mammoth total of 589 for eight declared in the first innings with their 254-run and 105-run knock respectively. The Yorkshireman was named the Man of the Match a week after leaving with two soft dismissals at Lorda��s.
In Englanda��s second innings of 173 for one, Cook and Root remained unbeaten on 76 and 71 respectively, giving the hosts an edge over Pakistan.
Reflecting on Roota��s innings, which put England right back in the series, Cook observed that it was a�?as good an inningsa�? that hea��d seen. The current vice-captain is stated to have the ability of keeping the scoreboard ticking, while also helping batsmen like Cook to play their natural game, admitted the captain.
The opener was also satisfied with the way his side fought back, after a below par performance at Lorda��s, to level the series. Captain Cook believes that England performed well with both – bat and ball this time, something they failed to capitalize on in the opening test match.
The two sides will meet again at Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham for the third Test starting on August 3.
