WI vs ENG | 2nd Test: Root defends his decision of declaration at Barbados

Joe Root defended his decision to declare on the final day of the drawn second Test match against West Indies in Barbados. His decision of leaving the declaration until lunch raised a few eyebrows, but Root did have a justification for the same. 

West Indies were chasing 282 and were already three wickets down. Kraigg Brathwaite, the West Indies captain, hit a fifty, ending England's hopes. However, root’s decision of leaving only 65 overs for England bowlers to dismiss West Indies in the second innings on the final day of the match did not work out. 

In the post-match interview, Root said, "It's always a tricky one isn't it ... trying to weigh that up." 

He continued, "Just with how small this ground is and how strong the wind was, you don't want to ... give too many overs. "To look back in hindsight, could we have pulled out 10 overs earlier, would it have made much difference?"

He further opined, "It's just really pleasing to see us make a substantial first innings total for the first time in a long time." Root added, "Hopefully the guys have gained a lot of confidence from it and we can replicate it again and again and again."

Speaking of the half-century by the West Indies captain, Root said, "It was annoying how good he was." Root said.

"He played brilliantly in both innings and didn't give us many opportunities. He ground us down. He's an ideal player for a pitch like that. He takes it deep time and time again. He had a clear game-plan and stuck to it very well. It's frustrating, but there's a lot of respect for the way he went about it.”

The England captain continued, "It did feel like a new-ball wicket, you needed to really make an impact while the ball was harder, but after three brilliant breakthroughs, we, unfortunately, couldn't quite kick on. Credit to West Indies, they fought very hard in two brilliant Test matches, and it should be a brilliant final one of the series."