Veteran English player Joe Root was dismissed for just five off Josh Hazelwood inside the first session on the first day of the final Ashes Test at The Oval leaving the side three runs behind. Joe Root tried to reach his favorite third-man area with a flick, but the ball came after hitting the woodwork. Must-win match against Australia to retain their 22-year unbeaten Test record at home, England got off to a flying start. The openers reach 62/0 in no time before the tourists counter-attacked three times. Joe Root was the last of the three, leaving England 73/3 in the 16th over. England’s best Test batsman Joe Root is struggling after a promising start in the Ashes series. After a knock of 118 and 46 in the first test, the champion batsman has scored just 157 runs in the remaining matches so far. Joe Root’s average has dropped to 26 since the second test, despite averaging nearly 46 for the series. He has also struggled against Pat Cummins and Josh Hazelwood, both have dismissed the right-handed batsman a combined 21 times in a test match.
Considering the magnitude of the series and this game, fans on Twitter slammed Joe Root for his lazy dismissal and overall showing in the series since the opening Test.
Here are some of the best reactions:
Joe Root Vs Josh Hazelwood in Test
Runs – 304
Balls – 586
Wickets -10
Average – 30.4Incredible from Hazeyyy, he dominates the best ones in the modern era. pic.twitter.com/WWs9rp979x
— Rafi (@rafi4999) July 27, 2023
Honestly except for the first test , Joe root had been quite disappointing in this ashes. Although still for the first time managed to outperform smith in ashes
— Aryan (@aryan_14_) July 27, 2023
Joe Root Vs Cummins and Hazlewood
Runs: 259 | 304
Dismissals: 11 | 10
Avg: 23.5 | 30.4— sourav (@Purplepatch22) July 27, 2023
https://twitter.com/82atMelbourne18/status/1684530370983632896
No flat track no party for the great Joe Root.#Ashes23
— Dhruv/Mayank☄️ FC🏏 (@cricdrugs) July 27, 2023
Saying it again. Joe Root is a complete garbage when there's swing and seam on offer and now Hazlewood has got him out for the 10th time in tests.
— Cric Bug (@Smithian_here) July 27, 2023
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England stage a recovery after three quick wickets at Lunch on Day 1
Australian captain Pat Cummins won the first toss of the series and decided to field first in a surprise decision due to bad weather. The decision backfired when England’s openers scored 62 runs in the first hour. However, the fall of three wickets in quick succession saw the home side reduced to 73/3. Mitchell Marsh broke the opening partnership, after which Pat Cummins and Josh Hazelwood took one wicket each.
Australia have fresh memories of The Oval, where they won the World Test championship final after beating India last month. They would like to double down on their excitement with their series win in England since 2001 at this venue.
