NEW DELHI: A win against Sri Lanka will put them firmly in contention for a semi-final berth but England’s best batsman Joe Root was forthright in his assessment that his team has not been able to play “best cricket” in the tournament so far.
“If we’re being honest, we’ve not done one part of our game consistently well. Times we’ve bowled extremely well and when we’ve batted well. The exciting thing for me is, when that comes together we’ll be a very hard side to beat,” Root told mediapersons ahead of their final group league game against Sri Lanka here tomorrow.
But he also admitted that finding ways to win is the key, which they have done in the last two matches.
“We have not performed at our best throughout the competition, which in a way is quite exciting because we know that’s still to come. The really pleasing thing for me is we’re finding ways of winning games of cricket. As long as we can continue to do that, all we can worry about is making sure we get that win tomorrow and give ourselves the best chance of qualifying,” said Root.
Even if England win, they need to keep a track of other matches and Root said that they are keeping a tab of what’s happening in the group.
“Important to watch the other games. Especially, throughout the tournament, how certain pitches are likely to play. Tonight’s an important game for us, because we’ll have an idea where we’ll stand in the table. For us, it’s about winning the game – that’s the only way we’re going to be able to qualify.”
For someone who had an impressive Test debut in India, Root knows a thing or two about how to play on pitches offering turn. But for him there is no hard and fast method of playing slow bowlers on Indian tracks.
“Everyone has their own way of playing it. There is no right or wrong way. For me it’s about trying to face as few dot balls as possible and trying to cash in on the boundaries when they’re available. Every surface is different. About making sure you give yourself the best chance on that kind of wicket. Sometimes you might have to face a few balls to get accustomed to it.
“Ultimately, it’s about playing the situation in front of you, reading the wicket, reading the score if you’re chasing, and making sure you’re working with your partner to whittle it down and take the game away from the opposition.” (AGENCIES)
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