Root plays “insane” reverse scoop for six in stunning masterclass vs New Zealand

Former England skipper Joe Root is in the form of his life at the moment and played an outrageous shot off Tim Southee during his magnificent 176 at Trent Bridge

Joe Root scored a brilliant 176 for England in a masterclass of Test match batting against New Zealand at Trent Bridge.

Root has been in brilliant form over the last 18 months, with this hundred his tenth in Test cricket since the start of 2021. And the former England captain produced one particularly outrageous shot on day four when he hit Tim Southee for six with a reverse scoop over the slips.

It was Root’s first six in Test cricket since his stunning double hundred against India in Chennai in February 2021. On commentary for Sky Sports, former England captain Michael Atherton said: “Unbelievable, unbelievable from Joe Root.

“He has scooped Tim Southee and I’m fairly certain that has gone all the way for six. This morning he said ‘I’m looking to take batting into new areas, don’t worry about the fact it’s a Test match you’re going to see something a little bit different from me from time to time.’

“We saw it yesterday when he tried to whip and sweep Southee through the leg side. Well this is right out of the one-day playbook.”

Former New Zealand bowler Simon Doull added: “This is outrageous… and so good to watch. Tim Southee just turned around and thought ‘I do not know what has just happened.”

Speaking on commentary for BBC Test Match Special, Sir Alastair Cook said: “There is stunned silence in the ground. Have we just seen that?”

TV personality and cricket fan Piers Morgan wrote on Twitter : “Just when you run out of superlatives for ⁦@root66 ⁩ .. he reverse-scoops Southee for 6 over the slips. Insane.”

Unfortunately for Root, he was unable to bring up his sixth Test match double hundred, falling for 176 when he was deceived by a Trent Boult slower ball and caught by Southee at cover. He was visibly frustrated after getting out, but it was a magnificent innings from a player who is at the peak of his powers.