He might find AB de Villiers’ heroics hard to fathom but Joe Root believes England are close to replicating South Africa’s remarkable one-day batting feats.
And Root reckons they may just keep the statisticians honest in Tuesday’s one-day Gabba clash with India.
Like every other cricket fan, Root could not believe his ears when told de Villiers had hit a record 31-ball one-day ton on his way to posting 149 against the West Indies in Johannesburg this week.
“He is a bit of a freak,” Root said of de Villiers.
“It’s exciting to see that just before a World Cup – it’s an unbelievable effort.”
But Root found South Africa’s record 2-439 total easier to believe – so much so that he reckoned England weren’t that far away from posting similar numbers.
South Africa’s total eclipsed the 9-438 they amassed in a win against Australia in March 2006.
And the huge run chase set for the Windies was just short of the all-time ODI record score of 9-443 set by Sri Lanka against Netherlands in July 2006.
But Root said: “That’s something we are aiming for, those sorts of scores.
“I think we are not that far away from that.
“We have another opportunity (on Tuesday).”
Asked if de Villiers’ assault proved once and for all the game was now biased toward the batsman, Root said: “No, that’s just amazing skill.”
England and India on Tuesday will be out to bounce back from opening losses to Australia in the triangular one-day series.
Root hoped success in the tournament would auger well for their World Cup campaign which begins in Melbourne against Australia on February 14.
“We’re here to win games of cricket. Obviously, with the World Cup around the corner, this is a massive series for us so we need to bounce back from last week,” said Root, who managed just five in England’s three-wicket defeat to Australia in the tri-series opener in Sydney.
“We have plans in place to … make sure we’re doing everything we can to make big scores and take 10 wickets.”
England are expected to welcome back paceman James Anderson (knee).
“He’s got masses of experience, he’s a big part of the dressing room, and can only strengthen our squad,” Root said.
