Joe Root delighted with England’s ‘match-winning’ all-rounders
Written by News on 08/08/2017
Joe Root saluted England’s "match-winning" all-rounders and suggested he will stick with the current balance of the side after the hosts secured a series win over South Africa.
Moeen Ali was named Man of the Series after taking 25 wickets with his off-spin – including a hat-trick to win the third Test at The Oval and 5-69 as England triumphed in the fourth at Old Trafford – as well as scoring 252 runs, with fifties at Lord’s and in Manchester.
Ben Stokes’ composed century in the third Test helped pave the way for a 239-run success, while the Durham man also pocketed two fifties and took seven wickets.
England replaced Hampshire spinner Liam Dawson with batsman Middlesex Dawid Malan after their second-Test hammering at Trent Bridge and Root seems happy to stick with the five-batter ploy.
"That is [potentially] the way going forward – I think it is important to assess conditions but we have looked very dangerous over these last two games.
"When you have match-winners, like we do in the middle-order with both bat and ball, it is a great luxury.
"We have had to overcome a number of different challenges but we have been brilliant as a unit, especially in the last two games.
"We have a lot of hard work to do in the future but I am really pleased with the way this series has gone. South Africa put us under pressure throughout but the way our guys responded has been exceptional."
Ali struck a fiery 75 not out from 66 balls helped England set South Africa a victory target of 380 at Old Trafford before his fourth five-wicket haul in Tests skittled the Proteas for 202.
"I have felt in good rhythm having done a lot of work with bowling coaches [Saqlain Mushtaq and Ottis Gibson]," said the all-rounder.
"I have felt I have got a lot of consistency. This [Old Trafford] pitch was great to bowl on if you got it in a good area and put a lot of revs on it.
"I felt I needed [a counter-attack] when I came into bat – I didn’t really back my defence as much so I just went out and played some shots. No 8 is a good spot to bat sometimes."
(c) Sky News 2017: Joe Root delighted with England’s ‘match-winning’ all-rounders
