
England’s Joe Root did not return to the field after sustaining a blow to his right little finger on the third day of the second Test against India in Visakhapatnam. AP
England pacer James Anderson has downplayed injury concerns after Joe Root pinched his right little finger on the third day of the second Test against India in Visakhapatnam.
Root was hit on his finger during the 18th over of the Indian innings while trying to grab a ball that came in off the outside edge of Shubman Gill’s bat. India’s number three played with heavy hands on Tom Hartley’s bowling, damaging the ball in the process.
In the end, the ball rolled all the way to the third-man fence and over the boundary line, leaving Root in discomfort and forcing him to return to the England dressing room.
“Joe Root sustained an injury to his right pinky finger while attempting a slip catch in the first session of D3. England’s medical team will keep him off the field for the time being for treatment and icing.” England team management said in an update.
Regarding Root not returning to the field for the rest of the day’s play, the veteran pacer said the England team management had avoided any further “external blows” and ensured that Root was fit enough to bat. He said he was just checking to make sure it was maintained. On the fourth day, the visitors were chasing the target of 399 runs.
“Yeah, he’s basically just taking care of himself. I think he took a knock in practice this morning. And then he took one on the field as well,” Anderson said in a press conference the next day.
“I don’t think there’s anything to worry about. We just have to make sure we’re in as good shape as possible for tomorrow. We might need him with a bat. I mean, make sure he’s available with a bat.
“It’s about making sure he’s in as good a condition as possible. There’s no point in risking hitting from the outside, there’s no point in risking hitting outside over the middle. So he… We’re making sure he’s hitting well enough,” Anderson added.
Root did not feature in the series but scored 4 for 79 and 1 for 41 in the first Test at Hyderabad.
In this Test, he scored just five runs in the first innings at Visakhapatnam, but was dismissed for 29 and two runs.
England, who lead the five-match series 1-0, need 332 runs to win on the fourth day.
With PTI input
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Published date: February 4, 2024 21:26:42 IST
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