Joe Root on Tough Win: ‘Sometimes It’s Good to Win Ugly’ in ENG vs SL 1st Test 2024

England’s top batter Joe Root wasn’t too bothered about their “ugly” win in the ENG vs SL 1st Test 2024 at Old Trafford, Manchester. He mentioned that the pitch made it hard for the batters to time the ball perfectly.

Sri Lanka played well and gave England a hard target of 205 runs. England found it tough, but they won anyway. Joe Root played a big part, scoring 62 runs without getting out. He got help from Harry Brook (32 runs) and Jamie Smith (39 runs).

Talking to Sky Sports after the match, Root said that winning with a day to spare shows how the team is growing. He also found the pitch surprising.

“Hopefully, this is a one-time thing, but sometimes it’s good to win ugly. We still have one day left, so we’re sticking to the principles we want to follow, and we’re evolving as a team. The outfield is the longest I’ve seen in England for a long time, and the pitch lost a lot of pace. So, it was pretty hard to time the ball, and I didn’t feel comfortable trying to hit it hard,” Root explained.

After England got a lead of 123 runs, Sri Lanka fought back with a strong batting performance, led by Kamindu Mendis, who scored 113. But once Mendis got out, Sri Lanka’s innings ended quickly.

Joe Root Praises Jamie Smith: “I Think You’ve Seen Everything You Want from a No. 7”

In the same interview, Root also praised Jamie Smith, who won the Player of the Match award for scoring 150 runs across both innings, including 111 in the first innings. Root thinks Smith’s versatility is impressive.

“He’s an amazing player. His wicketkeeping has been outstanding, but his batting is what you want from a No. 7. He can bat with the tail and play aggressively. And then there are moments, especially in the first innings, where he can be patient, keep the score ticking, and then go for it when needed,” Root added.

The 2nd Test is set to begin at Lord’s on August 29.

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