Joe Root hailed for gesture towards Usman Khawaja after teammate Ollie Robinson use cuss words for Australian

The Australian scored 141 runs in the first innings to put his team in a commanding position at the end of Day 2 after the top order collapsed at Edgbaston in Birmingham. The 36-year-old batter smashed 14 fours and three six en route to his majestic innings.

The opener went back to pavilion unbeaten on 126 at the end of Day 2 with Australia’s scorecard reading 311/5 in reply to England’s first innings total of 393/8.

England pacer Ollie Robinson finally managed to dismiss Khawaja in the 113th over of Australian innings on Sunday. Robinson sent Khawaja’s off-stump cartwheeling before hurling a few expletives towards the Pakistan-born batter.

As his England teammates joined him to celebrate the fall of the crucial wicket, Root broke off from the group to give the Australian batter a pat on the back. The gesture has been seen Root teaching a sportsmanship lesson to his teammate for unnecessarily cussing an opponent who has done his job brilliantly.

Here’s is how fans have reacted to Root’s gesture towards Khawaja

Lost in amongst the outrage for Robinson’s send off to Khawaja was the really sporting classy moment of Joe Root taking a moment to pat the batter on the back and congratulate him on a great innings. #TheAshes

— Aatif Nawaz (@AatifNawaz) June 18, 2023

Tbh i have huge respect for Joe Root, was the only English player who went to Usman Khawaja to congratulate on his innings after he got out while Ollie Robinson was acting foolish

— (@its_me_axad) June 18, 2023

Joe Root gives Ollie Robinson a lesson in sportsmanship. Just after Robinson tells Khawaja to do one, Root goes out of his way to congratulate Khawaja on his superb innings. Class act #yorkshire #root

— Mick Wildman (@mickey_blue_66) June 18, 2023

Robinson :f*o
Root : patting on shoulder of khawaja

— HASSAN SHAIKH (@HASSANS86799614) June 18, 2023

As Khawaja departed with Robinson’s ‘f-off’ salutation ringing in his ears, it was nice to see Joe Root give the Aussie a pat on the back to help diffuse the situation. #ENGvAUS #Ashes

— Steve Dawson (@Gulasahi) June 18, 2023

Robinson giving Khawaja a send off after he has scored 141 and has been at the crease for 4 sessions is honestly one of the dumbest things I have seen in test cricket.

Credit to (I think) Root for patting Khawaja on the back as he left. #Ashes23

— journalistagendas (@journalistagen1) June 18, 2023

Joe Root gives Ollie Robinson an abject lesson in sportsmanship. Just after Ollie tells Usman to “f**k off”, Joe goes out of his way to congratulate Khawaja on his innings. Class act. #AUSvsENG

— Marky V’Sparky (@BeaksMW) June 18, 2023

Ollie Robinson with the double f-bomb send-off for Khawaja. Meanwhile, Root congratulated him. I wonder which one was classier. #Ashes

— Geraint Jones ???????????????????????????? ???????? (@jones_itfc) June 18, 2023

The Australian innings collapsed to 386 in the first session of Day 3. England lost their openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, and were reduced to 28/2 in 10.3 overs before rain marred the proceedings.