Xtra Time Web Desk: England wicketkeeper batsman Jos Buttler on Sunday hailed Joe Root’s monumental 186 runs against Sri Lanka in the ongoing 2nd test in Galle as ‘masterclass’. According to Buttler the knock from Root was an education for the batsmen in the team on how to play spin bowling. Root backed up his 228 in the first Test victory with a monumental 186 in Galle on Sunday, falling cruelly to a run out from the final ball of the day. Oshada Fernando’s quick thinking at short leg meant England closed day three on 339-9 – a first-innings deficit of 42.
Root on scoring 186 runs passed Geoffrey Boycott, Kevin Pietersen and David Gower to go fourth on England’s all-time list of Test run scorers over the course of a fabulous knock.
“It was quite an amazing innings,” Buttler said. “To back up his double hundred in the first Test, to show the mental and physical application to go again.
“It’s been a masterclass in batting against spin. It’s been a great education for all of us watching from the sidelines.
“We’ve thoroughly enjoyed watching him and we’re gutted for him getting out in that fashion at the end of the day.”
With Root in such an ominous form, it will surely ring alarm bells for the Indian team as the two teams will face each other in the first test of the four match series in Chennai starting next month from February 05.