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'Joe Root Faces Difficult Challenges Against...'- Ian Chappell On England's Test Run-Machine 

Ex-England captain Joe Root in action [Source: @englandcricket/X.Com]Ex-England captain Joe Root in action [Source: @englandcricket/X.Com]

It has been quite a year for the 33-year-old Joe Root. Full of centuries and new records, Root has been in phenomenal form this calendar year and if luck sides with him further, he is well on the path of surpassing legendary Sachin Tendulkar's famous Test centuries record.

In the past two and a half years, Root has slammed 10 centuries in just 54 innings and recently went past Sir Alastair Cook as England's highest Test run-scorer.

Former Australian great, Ian Chappell believes that upcoming series against India and Australia will be the testing point for Joe Root's brilliant form and his skills against pacers and spinners. 

"Root's phenomenal run-making will again be tested when first he faces India at home and then Australia away. In those two series Root will be facing the best attacks in Test cricket, and his technique against both pace and spin will again be fully scrutinised,"  the 81-year-old wrote in his column for ESPNCricinfo.

"Those are difficult challenges that Root and England will face in the future. Currently they're desperately involved in a bid to win after Pakistan levelled their three-game series with a spin-revolution victory against a clueless England," he added further.

He also shed light on a 'very difficult task' Root will be hoping to succeed in and said:

"As the most technically gifted, Root will have the task of convincing his fellow team-mates that numerous versions of the sweep shot aren't the ideal way to combat good spinners. Despite Root's proven talent, that will be a very difficult task." 

Chappell On Century-Less Root In Australia

Chappell also highlighted how a notable aspect of Joe Root's career is his inability to score a Test century in Australia, despite having played 27 innings there. He further said that Australian bowling attack has indeed managed to dismiss him on multiple occasions. He also elaborated on the areas where Joe Root has lacked his usual magic.

"One of the few anomalies in Root's record is his failure to score a Test century in Australia despite having played 27 innings there. His last chance to rectify that statistic will likely come in 2025-26, when - barring injury or retirement - he will play another Ashes series. It's not as though Root has performed poorly in Australia, as his average of around 35 is respectable. However, the lack of a century despite making nine scores in excess of 50 is most unlike Root.

In Australia, the four main bowlers have dismissed Root a number of times and this could be pointed to as a weakness. Nevertheless there's an easy answer: if you're going to be dismissed, it's preferable to get out to a good bowler," he concluded.

Meanwhile, England will meet Pakistan in the final Test match and series decider at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi starting from October 24 onwards.