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Root laughs off Kohli’s run out send-off
BIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom, Aug 2, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – England captain Joe
Root said the controversial send-off he received from India skipper Virat
Kohli after being run out on the opening day of the first Test at Edgbaston
was “quite funny” and added to the “theatre of the game”.
England had been well-placed at 216 for three, with Root seemingly on
course to score a first Test century since his 136 against the West Indies
during last year’s day/night clash at Edgbaston.
But his 11th Test fifty without a hundred since that innings ended in
frustrating fashion when, with Yorkshire team-mate Jonny Bairstow calling him
for a tight second run, he was run out for 80 by Kohli’s direct hit from
midwicket.
It was also the finish of a stand worth 104 and the start of a collapse
that saw England lose six wickets for 67 runs on the way to a stumps score of
285 for nine.
Kohli rubbed salt into the wound by blowing kisses in the direction of
Root and putting his finger to his lips.
He also did the ‘mic drop’ gesture in imitation of Root’s celebration of
his one-day series-clinching hundred against India at Headingley.
Meanwhile the words Kohli appeared to utter in Root’s direction after the
run out could yet lead to action by match referee Jeff Crowe, the former New
Zealand captain.
“I didn’t see it at the time but I saw it last night,” Root told BBC
Radio’s Test Match Special in an interview broadcast on Thursday.
“It actually adds to the theatre of the game. It’s good to have those
little moments within things. I thought it was quite funny.”
He added: “I’m sure within the five-match series there will be plenty of
that stuff going on. It adds to the whole drama of this series.”
Asked if Kohli’s celebration would fire England up, Root replied: “We’ll
have to wait and see. I can’t see it becoming an issue throughout this game
or moving forward.
“But it makes entertaining cricket for everyone to watch, which is exactly
what you want in Test cricket.”
As for the run-out itself, the England skipper refused to blame Bairstow,
saying: “It’s no-one’s fault in particular.
“You could probably say we were both at fault. There’s no hard feelings
between me and Jonny.”
England’s first innings lasted just 10 balls into Thursday’s second day,
with the hosts adding a mere two runs before they were dismissed for 287 in
what is their 1,000th Test.
BSS/AFP/ARS/1804 hrs