Joe Root in the runs for Yorkshire CCC as batsmen dominate on benign pitch
A CONVERSATION overhead during the lunch interval at Headingley said it all.
“Easy on the eye, isn't he,” said one spectator, his voice awash with admiration.
“Yes,” came the reply. “Like all great batsmen, he seems to have that split-second more time.”
They were talking, of course, about Yorkshire’s Joe Root, who showed his skills on day three against Sussex.
As Yorkshire scored 511 in reply to Sussex’s 502, the visitors reaching 31-2 in their second innings, Root made 96 from 127 balls with 12 fours, a high-class innings in the watery sunshine.
It was the first time that he had picked up a bat in anger in first-class cricket since the Sydney Test in early January, when he struck 160 to follow an unbeaten 138 in Brisbane in one of the few crumbs of comfort for England in a disastrous series.
As the faultlines of Bazball were ruthlessly exposed, Root at least held up his end with 400 runs exactly in the five Ashes Tests, outscored only by Australia’s Travis Head, the ex-Yorkshire batsman.
It looked for all the world as if another three-figure score would follow for Root on Sunday as Yorkshire replied strongly to Sussex’s first 500-plus total against them at this ground.
However, just one boundary hit away from his 56th first-class hundred, and 12th for the club, he was surprised by a ball of extra bounce from Henry Crocombe, the strapping 24-year-old pace bowler, which jumped up from the Kirkstall Lane end and took the edge on its way to the keeper.
Root cast a fleetingly quizzical look back down at the pitch, patted his bat a few times in the general direction of where the ball landed, and walked off to warm applause from the straggly crowd. It was a prize scalp for Crocombe, himself highly rated.
At least Yorkshire did have two centurions to toast on a pitch that was far too placid for comfort - a throwback to the surfaces here a couple of years back that the club was keen to consign to the past.
Fin Bean already had 102 to his name when the day began with Yorkshire 192-1, and after he fell leg-before to Fynn Hudson-Prentice having added three to that tally, fellow left-hander Sam Whiteman followed him to the milestone, the new recruit from Western Australia making his maiden hundred for the county of his birth.
Whiteman, who had 73 overnight and shared with Bean 182 for the second-wicket, a Yorkshire record against Sussex, went to the landmark in the grand manner, depositing the left-arm spinner James Coles for a straight six into The Howard Stand. He, too, was unable to go on, caught behind for 101 when he slashed at a ball outside the off stump from Crocombe.
It brought together the old firm of Root and Jonny Bairstow, who have shared many a fine stand here in their time.
Not on this occasion, though, as Bairstow was bowled through the gate for six by Coles, perhaps playing for turn that did not materialise.
Bairstow fell in the final over before the second new ball, which then drew the rarity of a false shot from Root, who flashed Ollie Robinson just over the slips. Otherwise, it was a typical Root innings - the scoreboard ticking over without anyone really noticing its orderly advancement as he made batting seem as easy as you like.
Having helped himself to some leg-side boundaries off Crocombe, Root reached his fifty just before lunch, from 59 balls, as Yorkshire took their bread and dripping at 300-4.
The score had climbed to 353 when Sussex finally grabbed the fifth wicket, a fine innings from Matty Revis coming to an end when he drove firmly at Coles and edged to slip, having scored 42 from 86 balls with seven fours.
Root took successive boundaries off Coles, sweeping him in front of square and then cutting him away towards the West Stand. Perhaps the closest thing that came to troubling him before he was out was when George Hill hammered a straight drive down the ground, Root splaying his legs just in time to allow the ball through.
Sussex, who lost Tom Price early in the day to what looked like an ankle injury when fielding on the boundary, found Hill to be another stubborn obstacle, the all-rounder contributing an even 50 from 57 balls with five fours and a straight six off Coles.
After Dom Bess fell lbw to Tom Haines, a strange decision, Hill departed to a brilliant catch by Tom Clark, who dived to his left at mid-wicket to cling on after the batsman came down the pitch to off-spinner Jack Carson.
Logan van Beek and Jhye Richardson added 49 for the ninth-wicket, a fighting effort from the overseas signings, who had conceded a combined 1-230 from 44 overs in the Sussex first innings.
Van Beek did not seem best pleased when he was given out caught behind off Crocombe, the innings ending when Richardson went back to cut Coles and chopped on.
Richardson struck with his 10th ball in the second innings, Daniel Hughes bowled through the gate, as Sussex were left to negotiate 14 overs before stumps.
It was tricky for them in worsening light, Haines then going to a leading edge off Hill.