Michael Atherton on Joe Root’s form: Reward for some incredible work he did in lockdown

Michael Atherton praises Joe Root in every possible way and believes that the English test skipper is reaping the benefits of the “incredible work” he did during the Covid-19 lockdown last year.

Joe Root remained unbeaten on 180 as England took a 27-run lead in the second Test against India at Lord’s.

“I think this is a reward for some incredible work he did in lockdown. It came at a time when he was 29 and had already had a fantastic career,” Atherton says.

“But it just gave him an opportunity to rest, where he’s said ‘I’ve got the second half of my career to come and I can go from being a very, very fine player to one of the all-time greats’,” he added.

The 30-year-old has been in scintillating form in the past few months with knocks of 228 and 186 on the turning tracks of Galle, 218 against India in Chennai, and 109 under serious pressure in the rain-affected draw at Nottingham.

Among Englishmen, only Denis Compton and Michael Vaughan have scored more hundreds in a calendar year. And with three more tests remaining this summer, his current purple patch suggests he could join them on six sooner rather than later.

He became only the second English batsman after Alastair Cook to score 9000 test runs. His 22nd test hundred was studded with 18 fours.

The former England captain-turned-cricket writer said the tweaks Root made in his techniques has resulted in a ‘golden run of form.’

“He’s made a slight technical adjustment now, with that back leg going straight back. That made him less vulnerable to the lbw when the ball is straight.

“For three years, he’s not been quite at his best at home against seam and pace bowling, but now he’s in a golden run of form that started at the beginning of 2021 when England went to Sri Lanka.

“He showed all his great skill on the dust bowls in Asia and now he’s got his very best game together in more seam-friendly conditions here at home.”