India vs England: Decoding Joe Root's performance against Ishant Sharma
India and England are all set to face each other in a four-match Test series, starting February 5 in Chennai. Both sides will be aiming to do well with the qualification for the ICC World Test Championship final at stake. England cricket team skipper Joe Root holds the key for the visitors. Here we look at his performance against Indian pacer Ishant Sharma.
Root's Test career and his performance against India
Root, who is set to feature in his 100th Test match, has scored 8,249 runs at an average of 49.39. He has smashed 19 hundreds and 49 fifties so far. Notably, Root has featured in 16 Tests against Team India. He has accumulated 1,421 runs at a superb average of 56.84. Root has amassed four tons and nine fifties against the Indian cricket team.
Ishant's Test career and his performance against England
Ishant Sharma will be hoping to make a comeback after missing out against Australia due to injury. In 97 Test matches, the right-arm pacer has racked up 297 scalps at 32.39. He has claimed 11 five-wicket hauls with a best of 7/74. Against England, Ishant has racked up 56 wickets so far at 32.80. He has two five-wicket hauls against England.
Root has an impressive record against Ishant
Having faced 303 balls against Ishant, England captain Root has scored 157 runs. He has enjoyed a healthy strike rate of 51.82. Root has also hit 17 fours. Meanwhile, Root has been dismissed just twice by Ishant in Test cricket. This shows that the England batsman has dominated the scenes against Ishant so far.
What to expect from Root and Ishant?
Root has been in prime form of late. He scored two centuries, including a double ton in the recently concluded two-match Test series against Sri Lanka. With a healthy performance in Asia, Root will be looking to thwart the Indian bowlers. Meanwhile, Ishant needs to get back into the groove after missing action for a while. His experience will be key here.
