Joe Root owes his career-best innings against Pakistan to the “hurt” caused by batting coach Mark Ramprakash’s assessment of his recent efforts.
Root hit 254 and 71 not out as England levelled the series at Old Trafford, innings that were full of a determination and focus lacking from his game in the previous Test at Lord’s.
The Yorkshireman sought Ramprakash’s counsel after losing his wicket in the First Test to a botched sweep and then a soft pull. The former England batsman suggested it was a psychological issue rather than a technical one.
“It was almost like the final straw at Lord’s. I’d really wound myself up,” he said. “I knew having been moved up the order [to No3] and being 1-0 down in the series, I needed to put a really big performance.
“So I worked really hard in practice and spoke to Mark Ramprakash.
“One thing he said was, ‘Are you mentally in the right place to play Test cricket at the minute?’
“I didn’t even think about that at the time. That sort of hurt me, that someone would say that to me.
“All he said was, ‘It must be your mental approach to things because your game looks in good order’. It’s actually exactly what I needed to hear and that’s why he is such a good batting coach.
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“It was a good motivator to get me in the right place for Old Trafford.”
The Third Test begins at Edgbaston on Wednesday.hat we spend the money in the right places.
