Joe Root 'madness' blows cricket world away amid historic Ashes drama

Joe Root notched an unwanted career first on a wild day four of the Ashes at Edgbaston, where the 32-year-old left the cricket world in disbelief after an extraordinary display of batting. Root made a quick-fire 46, then suffered a historic first stumping of his Test career, before his England side set the Aussies a formidable 281-run victory target after being bowled out for 273 in their second innings.

Australia went from 0-61 to 3-107 at stumps, with David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith all falling in the space of eight overs. First innings centurion Usman Khawaja (34no) and nightwatchman Scott Boland (13no) will resume on day five with the Aussies requiring 174 more runs to seal victory in what shapes as a dramatic conclusion to the first Test.

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There was drama aplenty from the very first ball on day four as Root decided to try and reverse ramp Aussie captain Pat Cummins over the boundary in scenes that left viewers in utter disbelief. “I’m not sure I’ve ever seen that in Test cricket,” England great Kevin Pietersen said in commentary.

Root was unsuccessful on the first occasion but employed the tactic again moments later in the opening session, and to devastating effect. In scenes that perhaps best exemplified England's aggressive 'Bazball' approach, Root once again turned to the ramp shot to hit the normally economical Scott Boland for consecutive boundaries. The first, Root scooped over the top for six, before sending the second rolling into the boundary rope.

The swashbuckling display of batting from Root left the cricket world in a frenzy as former players and fans alike, discussed the audacity of attempting to reverse ramp one of the best bowlers in the world, off the very first ball of the day. Former England captain Michael Vaughan told The Telegraph: “As if this Test couldn’t get any more interesting, that was the most remarkable non-scoring shot you could imagine.”

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Former England spinner Phil Tufnell couldn't believe what he'd witnessed after discussing the scenes on BBC’s live commentary. “What is he doing? Joe Root is the absolute glue which binds together England’s batting line-up and he attempts to reverse ramp him, first ball?! He’d have looked pretty silly if he had lost his middle pole. And he did it on nought! I think I’m getting too old for this game," he said.

Tufnell quickly changed his tune after Root's back-to-back boundaries off the same shot. “First of all, what a shot. That’s twice he’s done it! Incredible! It never ceases to amaze me this style of cricket," he added.

Former Australia coach Justin Langer told The Telegraph: “The burning question leading into this series was whether England could apply Bazball theory against Australia’s world class attack. Under immense pressure this morning Joe Root, a truly great player, has led the way... Take a bow Joe Root.”

Nathan Lyon and Pat Cummins take four wickets each

When Root did depart four runs short of another half century, it was incredibly via the first stumping of his first class cricket career. Lyon was the bowler to claim the prized scalp of Root, who had inexplicably never once been stumped before in his previous 219 Test dismissals or at any point in his 348 first-class innings.

Lyon (4-80) and Aussie skipper Pat Cummins (4-63) were the pick of the Aussie bowlers with four wickets apiece, while England quick Stuart Broad did the majority of damage with the ball for the home side by removing Marnus Labuschagne (13) and Steve Smith (6) cheaply.

After Ollie Robinson had Warner caught behind for 36, Broad picked up the world's two top-ranked batters the same way, with Labuschagne nicking to an outswinger and Smith an inswinger. That has left-first innings centurion Usman Khawaja as Australia's key man at Edgbaston, still at the crease on 34 with nightwatchman Scott Boland at the other end on 13.

"It probably wasn't our greatest 40 minutes to lose Marnus, Steve and Davey but you have to give credit where it's due, England's bowled well," Australia spinner Nathan Lyon said. "But I'm backing our boys, I'm confident our boys can go out there and bat well. "It's set up to be a thrilling Test match and it's been one hell of a way to start the series."

with AAP

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