How Indian Spinners Can Plan Joe Root's Dismissal In Tests

England captain Joe Root is one of the best players of spin. His recent form against Sri Lanka is proof of how settled Root is against spinners. 

Joe Root made 426 runs in the two-test match series against Sri Lanka in January 2021. He struck a double ton - 228, and a 186 in two consecutive test matches. In a match where the rest of the English batting lineup was struggling to face a nine-test match-old Lasith Embuldeniya, Root was sweeping the spinners for fours. 

India will offer similar spin-friendly conditions in the upcoming four-match series against England. The first two matches will be played in Chennai, which traditionally suits spinners. 

Joe Root will be encountering a similar type of attack against India like he faced in Sri Lanka - a right-arm off-spinner and possibly a left-armer. 

Ravichandran Ashwin will be leading the spin bowling attack of India. The off-spinner is close to taking 400 test wickets in which he has got the wicket of Root three times. 

Root's Dismissals In 2016 Tour

Joe Root's most effective shot against spin is sweep. In the first test played at Rajkot, Root attempted slog-sweep against leg-spinner Amit Mishra. The ball bounced more than usual on a day five wicket, and Root top-edged the ball. 

Screen Grab - BCCI TV

In the second test, R Ashwin flighted the ball, which didn't turn as Root was anticipating. He stepped down the track and tried to loft the ball (anticipating the turn). He once again top-edged the ball, which went high and straight to covers. 

In the third test, Jayant Yadav bowled a good length, which turned a bit and Root got late to hit the ball towards the leg side. In the second innings, Ravindra Jadeja pitched the ball on a good length, which turned and bounced. Root attempted to drive the ball, but the bounce got the better of him and he edged it to the slips. 

Screen Grab - BCCI TV 

Ravichandran Ashwin got Joe Root out almost in identical fashion in the 4th Test as he drew an edge to the slips. Root attempted to drive the ball, which didn't turn. In the second innings, Jayant Yadav bowled an arm ball, which turned a bit on a day four pitch. The fast turn got the better of Root as he got struck in front. 

In the fifth test played in Chennai, Root got out to Ravindra Jadeja in both innings, attempting to sweep. In the first innings, he under-edged the ball while sweeping, and in the second innings, he played the shot early resulting in an easy LBW decision. 

Screen Grab - BCCI TV

How To Get Joe Root Out?

By looking at the dismissals from the previous tour of India, it is understood that Joe Root always looks to attack the spinners. He likes going to back-foot as well as comfortable in sweeping the ball. 

What the Indian spinners did in the last tour was make him play his shots. In 10 innings, Joe Root got out eight times to spinners. Three times he got out attempting to sweep, two times he attempted the drive, and one time he attempted to lofted drive, a ball which he misread. Jayant Yadav got him out two times LBW with a straighter one. 

In the tour of Australia, India bowled straighter lines and set leg-side fields for the batsmen. With two spinners - an off-spinner and a Chinaman, making the ball come back in for Joe Root, the leg-side trap will be a good set up. 

Kuldeep Yadav has taken 11 wickets as bowled and LBW. This suggests that he bowls a tighter straight line. Yadav could be an effective option to bowl against Joe Root. 

The first test match between India-England will be played from 5th February in Chennai. Joe Root will be playing his 100th Test match.