Joe Root works over Nasser Hussain in the innings for England’s hard-fought victory over Sri Lanka

In a match defined by patience and endurance, Joe Root which led to a match-winning shot England to a five-wicket win over Sri Lanka at the opening Test three-match series At Old Trafford. England successfully chased down the 205-run target, though not without a few nerve-racking moments. Root’s half-century was instrumental in sealing the innings after early wickets left England in a precarious position.

After the match, Root had a humorous yet insightful reflection on his innings, joking that he had to “channel his inner Hussain” – a nod to the former England captain. Nasir Hussainknown for his dogged determination rather than his explosive batting game. In a sincere conversation with Hussain, discussing his performance with Hussain and Ian Ward on Sky Sports.

“I’m still ahead of your career strikeout rate, but today was one of those tough ones.” Root explained.

He admitted the wicket was slow and testing as the game lost momentum as the game progressed, making it difficult to score quickly.

“It’s been long, slow and hard work, but we got there in the end,” Root said.

Root’s performance was notable not only for his value in runs but also for the adaptability he displayed. Known for his free-kick game, the veteran batter needed to adjust his game as it became increasingly difficult to muscle the ball.

“I had to collect the runs a little differentlyhe explained

The veteran cricketer also shared that his teammates have humorously started calling him ‘Geoff’, a reference to famous defender Geoffrey Boycott.

“The guys all call me Geoff (Boycott) upstairs“, said the former Test captain.

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To win the match no matter what the root

The right-handed batsman was philosophical about the challenge, saying that sometimes winning requires accepting the “ugly” side of the game.

“Hopefully, it’s a one-time thing, but sometimes you have to win ugly. We still have one more day to win and it shows that as a team we are sticking to the principles we believe in and growing together.“, he said

The Old Trafford pitch, which resembled subcontinental conditions, presented England with a stern test. Root emphasized that playing Sri Lanka in these conditions is as close to the challenge of playing in Sri Lanka as you can get in England.

“The fact that we handled it well and closed it out is a very good step forward for this team,” he added.

Root’s hard knock leads England to victory over Sri Lanka

Root’s composure under pressure was complemented by vital contributions Harry Brooke and Jamie SmithEngland steadily came closer to the target. Despite a few shaky moments, England finished at 205 for 5 to secure a 1-0 lead in the series. As Root noted, winning on the tough surfaces was a valuable experience for the team and was not only a confidence booster but also a testament to the squad’s growing maturity and adaptability.

With the second Test looming, England will be hoping to build on that momentum, with Root’s composed batting sure to be the decisive moment in a hard-fought victory.

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