Sachin Tendulkar : Footwork has to be precise while tackling spinners in India

Sachin Tendulkar has proclaimed that one has to be precise in his footwork and employ the sweep shot to perfection if wants success in Indian conditions.

In Sri Lanka, Joe Root put up a masterclass on how to play sweep shots, with a 186 and 228 across two Tests, and his major productive shot was the sweep. He employed that to great effect while targeting the Lankan spinners, and especially Lasith Embuldeniya who was weaving his own magic.

Sachin Tendulkar feels if any England batsmen want any success, they have to replicate Root in India while being precise in his footwork and playing with positive intent.

Also Read: Swann Likens Kohli’s Game Against Spinners To Tendulkar

“I feel most of the successful batters against Indian spinners in India have played good sweep shots. The footwork has to be precise, and the intent has to be aggressive,” Tendulkar told The Week.

“When you are bowling in India, you need to understand what batters like; how to keep things under control. The spinners who have bowled well in India have always been the ones who had the tendency to bowl marginally faster because back home their conditions don’t have much to offer in terms of spin.”

Knew on Root’s ability during his debut Test, reveals Tendulkar

Joe Root made his Test debut in Nagpur during the 2012 series when Sachin Tendulkar was on the fag end of his career. The Test that was remembered for Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott’s dominant centuries and an England win for the ages, Root was defiant in his approach, scoring a stoic 73 in the first innings.

Tendulkar remembered saying to his teammates that they were looking at the future English captain who, Tendulkar observed, had a great sense of Test cricket batting.

“This England team has depth and talent. Ollie Pope is also there! So, from whatever I have seen, they have a strong team. Skipper Joe Root himself has been a successful player all across the world. He will like to play this series at a different level.

“I remember watching Joe Root in his first Test match and a couple of people asked me about him. I said he is sharp, and understands how to rotate strike and you are possibly looking at the future captain of England. Where they are in world cricket today, is remarkable,” the Master Blaster said.