IND vs ENG 2024: Mark Butcher blames Joe Root’s bowling workload for batting woes

Former England skipper Joe Root has had tremendous success in Indian conditions and was expected to deliver again in the ongoing five-match series. However, the 33-year-old struggled with the bat this time around, averaging a paltry 12.83 after first three Test matches. Speaking about the same, former cricketer Mark Butcher mentioned that his bowling workload is likely disrupting his focus while batting.

Notably, Root is playing as a full-time allrounder in this series as he has bowled 107 overs so far. The greatest number of overs he bowled in a series before this was 67, against Pakistan, showing how significant his bowling workload in the ongoing series against India has been. Butcher believes that it has affected Root’s batting performance as he is working as much as the frontline spinners.

“If you’re asking your best batter to be a genuine all-rounder and bowl as many overs as your frontline spinners, then don’t be overly surprised if you’re not getting the output from him with the bat that you would like,” Butcher was quoted as saying by Wisden.

“I’ve thought that that thinking, going back in time to when people were talking about Joe Root being the lone spinner for England in more seam-friendly conditions and said that that was nonsense, and I still think that having him having to do so much work as a frontline spin bowler is not likely to yield the sort of results that you’d expect from him with the bat,” he added. 

Butcher analyses the performance of England spinners

The former cricketer believes that the likes of Rehan Ahmed and Tom Hartley have done well in the ongoing series but their inexperience in bowling in the first innings has cost England so far. Notably, Jack Leach, the most experienced spinner in the England camp, was ruled out with a knee injury after the first Test and that as per Butcher has played a strong part in India’s command with the bat.

“I’m not sure what England can do about that with Leach’s injury, but it exposes a little bit the folly of going out there with such a green spin attack anyway to India. Rehan Ahmed and (Tom) Hartley have performed really, really well, but, given the tosses coming down when you’re bowling first and third rather than second fourth, you need a bit more than guys who are just either making their way in the game or guys who are, as Joe Root is, part-time spin bowlers to hold the fort for you. It’s such a fundamental reason why [India] were favourites before it started,” Butcher added.