'Root Starts Reverse-Ramps...,' Damien Fleming Taken Aback by Englishman's Unorthodox Shots
Joe Root attempting a reverse ramp shot (AP Photo)
Former Australian pacer Damien Fleming expressed his astonishment at Joe Root's use of reverse ramps during the early stages of Day 4 in the first Ashes Test at Egbaston. The strategic choice by Root compelled Australia to alter their field placements in response.
On the first ball of Day 4, Root attempted a reverse ramp against Pat Cummins but was unable to connect with the ball. However, he quickly made up for it by smashing a series of boundaries off Scott Boland in the next over, including a boundary and a six executed through the reverse ramp.
Root's innovative shot selection and power-hitting have garnered attention, with his ability to elevate his game under the guidance of head coach Brendon McCullum. Although Root is widely recognized for his traditional batting style, he has incorporated unorthodox shots like ramps and reverse ramps into his repertoire.
Following his impressive century (118*) in the first innings, Root continued his fine form by scoring 46 off 55 balls.
Fleming admitted that he was taken aback by Root's tactics, particularly his reverse ramps, which caught him off guard. Australia initially employed traditional field settings but were surprised when Root unleashed his unconventional shots for boundaries and sixes. The former pacer acknowledged that, for Root, employing the reverse ramp is not a significant risk due to his rapid positioning and the ability to either elevate or hit the ball square.
"I thought you needed to get a little bit more traditional to Ollie Pope and Joe Root because they just got too many easy ones and twos. Australia started with the traditional fields and then Joe Root starts reverse-ramping Scott Boland for fours and sixes. That actually stunned me, that tactic. For Joe Root, it's not a real risk. He gets into position so quickly and he actually has the opportunity to either elevate or hit the ball square," said Damien Fleming.
Root's creative shot selection and ability to adapt to different situations have added a new dimension to his batting prowess. At the time of publishing, the game is even-steven with Australia needing 174 and England needing seven wickets to win the Test match; however, Day 5 is expected to be a rain-curtained affair.
 "Vaibhav Tripathi")
