Well done Root

So many puns, none of which are appropriate for a blog like this.  Oh well, I will just have to congratulate Joe Root.  He batted beautifully in the parts I saw.  His timing and placement were exquisite.  Early on he batted with the patience expected of a top class batsman.  Later on he cashed in when the bowlers tired.

Please Aussies.  Pay attention.  Learn from what you saw Root do here.  It is exactly what Bell did in three of the four innings this series.  These inngs have been the difference.  They consisted of patient batting that never got entirely bogged down, punishing the loose ball and kept the scoreboard ticking over.  Most of all, they showed they could concentrate over a long period of time.

The time for the Aussies to practice is the rest of this match.  They will have to bat virtually two days to save (or really unlikely, win) this match.  What better time to try to bat the way Root and Bell have shown works.  Last time the Aussies struggled to survive two sessions.  Two days is probably beyond them.  If they manage it, it will go along way towards getting back in the series.  Particularly because the way they will have to bat to save themselves here is the way they will have to bat over the next eight tests if they are to have a fraction of a chance.