WATCH: Joe Root cleans up Ben Stokes in London’s version of gully cricket
Joe Root is not the first name that comes to mind when you talk about cleaning up batters, although he did do so in Ahmedabad earlier this year. Despite having pretty decent talent with his off-breaks, understandably, he concentrates more on his forte, which is his batting, and keeps his bowling antics to the minimum.
However, whenever he turns up, he is always a major threat and continues to provide big wickets for the English side across formats. This time, however, Joe Root was busy shuttering the stumps on the streets of London, in the company of his English teammate Ben Stokes. Stokes, a former recipient of the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy, did not have the best of experience facing him in England’s version of “Gully cricket”.
A little time ago in London, both players took to the street to give it a go in those narrow lanes. Ben Stokes took the bat whilst Joe Root was handed the ball. It seemed like the 30-year-old was bowling medium pace whilst the left-handed batter was just enjoying the moment with the crowd around. As it turns out, the English Test skipper managed to rattle Stokes’ stumps and went on an “Imran Tahir celebratory run”.
Here’s that video of Joe Root and Ben Stokes playing gully cricket in London
Joe Root bowling Ben Stokes out in the streets of London.
Incredible send off
pic.twitter.com/roe1NgkZMd
— Cricket Mate
(@CricketMate_) March 28, 2021
Both these cricketers have a massive responsibility on their shoulders ahead of the 3rd Ashes Test that will begin on Boxing Day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Root has already called for his players to chip in with their best possible performance, as there is no better motivation than to be in a position where the Ashes is on the verge of slipping away.
Ben Stokes has not been a part of the setup for a while and has come back quite recently after taking an indefinite break to nurse his mental health issues. They need him to be at his best to stand a chance in the coming games, which won’t be easy considering how high the Aussies are flying right now.