Joe Root is number one

[BazBall21]

Regarding Root in Australia, I generally view 2017/18 as the big missed opportunity. Melbourne was insanely flat and the other pitches were good batting strips by and large. It might be partly because of the friendlier pitches but the bowling on that tour also wasn’t as crazy good as the other two. Unfortunately it came before his peak and at the height of his conversion issues.
2013/14 he was genuinely out of his depth at the time under the circumstances. Mitch Johnson was obvs in unprecedented form on some spicy decks, backed up by the brilliant Ryan Harris.
2021/22 was just such a disaster in some really bowler-friendly conditions he eventually fell apart after a reasonably promising start.
I can’t defend him too much here and it is definitely a blot on his record when comparing him to greats, but he’s been very unlucky in Australia when you break it down.

 

[BazBall21]

Apologies for droning on. Didn’t realise it was that long!

 

[Tom Flint]

Why was stokes wagging his little finger at root after his 50? Was it one finger for no 1 in the world or an inside joke only known by those in the dressing room and joe roots wife?

 

[greg]

Pulling away from the rest at a pace now…

 

[Tom Flint]

Pulling away from the rest at a pace now…

On form yes but smith still got a healthy average lead. Will have to wait until next summer for that to be overcome

 

[TheJediBrah]

If you could be as good at batting as Joe Root, but you have to look like Joe Root, would you do it?

 

[Shady Slim]

If you could be as good at batting as Joe Root, but you have to look like Joe Root, would you do it?

you got to feel for ellen degeneres, who has all the looking like joe root with (presumably) very little of the cricketing ability

 

[GIMH]

Back in his rightful place

 

[BazBall21]

Looking forward to the SL series. He surely won't miss out in Pakistan twice.

 

[Adders]

Back in his rightful place

Does this mean he's still struggling in the bazball era?

 

[ashley bach]

Kane > Joe

Rankings can go get ****ed

 

[Howe_zat]

One record Root will probably break this summer is the most runs in England. Top 10 right now:

 

[ankitj]

If you could be as good at batting as Joe Root, but you have to look like Joe Root, would you do it?

I'd offer to exchange my looks with Smith for his batting average.

 

[sayon basak]

If you could be as good at batting as Joe Root, but you have to look like Joe Root, would you do it?

Does Joe Root look bad?

 

[Red_Ink_Squid]

One record Root will probably break this summer is the most runs in England. Top 10 right now:

View attachment 41163

No Aussies in sight on this list. English superiority just gets more and more confirmed.

 

[TheJediBrah]

I'd offer to exchange my looks with Smith for his batting average.

Graeme Smith maybe. Steve? **** no

 

[GIMH]

Since giving up the captaincy

All-round records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com

stats.espncricinfo.com

Average not far off 60. A ton every 3.5 matches. Bowling average even slightly better than career for good measure. And all this with two disappointing tours by his standards of Asia.

The greatest sportsman from these shores this century and then some.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Greatest this century?? Not sure

Hamilton, Farah, Murray, Fury, Hoy, and Wiggins are/were all at his level or above.
Ronnie O'Sullivan and Jonny Wilkinson also played in the 90s as well as post 2000 so perhaps not eligible

 

[GIMH]

Greatest this century?? Not sure

Hamilton, Farah, Murray, Fury, Hoy, and Wiggins are/were all at his level or above.
Ronnie O'Sullivan and Jonny Wilkinson also played in the 90s as well as post 2000 so perhaps not eligible

I’ll be honest, I tend to almost exclude individual sports from my thinking when I make these statements but

Hamilton - I’d beat him in my old corsa. Not a sport
Farah - belongs in the argument but Root has been world class for a decade now, has achieved at the highest level in multiple formats like Farah, and has never advertised quorn
Fury - Boxing isn’t a sport, you might as well mention Wade Barrett and Drew McIntyre
Hoy - Come back when his best move on the bike is as good as Root’s ramp
Wiggins - questions to answer
O’Sullivan - pub game, not a sport
Wilkinson - doesn’t even need a joke answer

 

[Majestic]

Certainly no less than Ponting who was worse than Root vs spin, swing and seam.