The question on everyone's mind after the rain‑delayed third day at Lord's was whether England captain Joe Root is developing a genuine leg‑before‑wicket (LBW) vulnerability. In the second Test against Pakistan, Root fell to LBW twice, taking his tally for the summer to seven such dismissals and nine in his last twelve Test innings. Such a pattern has sparked a lively debate among pundits and fans alike. Sky Sports' former England opener Michael Atherton noted the paradox: even a player with more than 160 Tests under his belt and a career average above 50 – statistics that place him among England's all‑time greats – can still be scrutinised for a perceived technical flaw.
Atherton argued that the issue is not solely about Root but also reflects a broader evolution in modern Test cricket. In earlier eras, bowlers tended to focus on moving the ball away from the bat, aiming to catch an edge on the slip cordon. Batsmen were taught to play predominantly on the off‑side, defending the line just outside the off stump. In recent years, however, English bowlers have increasingly employed the "wobble seam" – a delivery that lands on the seam and then deviates sharply either way.
This tactic often produces a late inward swing or seam movement that targets the batsman's pads. As a result, the number of LBW and bowled dismissals has risen dramatically this summer, prompting opposition teams to look for ways to exploit what appears to be a slight weakness in Root's game.
Atherton also highlighted a tactical nuance involving the wicket‑keeper. When a keeper stands up to the stumps for slower, medium‑pace bowlers such as Matt Henry or Mohammad Abbas, the batsman is forced to stay further back in the crease. This proximity gives the bowler a better chance of hitting the pads in line with the stumps, increasing the probability of an LBW decision.
Root's most recent LBW in the second innings came off a delivery by Pakistan pacer Mohammad Ali. Ali produced a ball that angled away before pitching and then bounced sharply, beating Root's outside edge and striking the pads in line with the stumps.
Former England captain Nasser Hussain believes this type of delivery is a key factor in Root's recent troubles. Hussain explained that when a ball moves away, a batsman instinctively tries to protect the outside edge, often by moving the front pad across the line of the ball.
In Root's case, the combination of outswing, followed by a wobble seam that nips back in, creates a razor‑thin margin – sometimes just four or five inches – for the batsman to cover. Hussain drew a parallel with the late Australian bowler Terry Alderman, who famously used a sequence of outswingers followed by a sharply moving delivery to set up England's Graham Gooch.
Gooch eventually altered his technique, abandoning the aggressive back‑and‑across approach in favour of a more compact, straight‑line stance. Hussain suggests that Root, when at his best, prefers a simple, forward‑and‑backward rhythm, staying close to the line of the ball. Yet the heightened movement this summer forces him to reach across, exposing the pad‑line and making LBW a more likely outcome. Another element that compounds the problem is the low bounce often encountered at Lord's.
When the ball stays low, it tends to rise toward the stumps rather than the bat, further increasing LBW chances. Bowlers are aware of this and deliberately bowl a length that maximises the chance of hitting the pads in line with the wickets.
Despite the criticism, Atherton and Hussain both acknowledge the skill involved in the bowling attacks England, New Zealand and Pakistan have displayed this season. Their ability to swing the ball outward and then, with the wobble seam, bring it back in creates a potent mix that challenges even the most technically sound batsmen. Root's dilemma, as Atherton summed up, is a strategic one.
If he decides to eliminate the LBW threat by staying more upright and playing with a wider bat, he may become more susceptible to edges and catches behind the wicket. Conversely, if he continues to chase the ball across his pads, he risks further LBW dismissals. This tension exemplifies the intricate chess match that is Test cricket, where adjustments in technique can open up new vulnerabilities.
Looking ahead, Root will need to find a balance between defending his pads and protecting his off‑side. Some possible approaches include: * Shortening the stride and playing with a slightly more upright posture to reduce the distance between the front pad and the ball. * Practising the dead‑ball technique against wobble‑seam deliveries in the nets, focusing on leaving the ball rather than playing at it when it moves away.
* Working with the coaching staff to develop a more flexible foot‑work plan that allows him to adjust quickly between playing straight and moving across, depending on the bowler's line. Ultimately, the answer may lie in subtle technical tweaks rather than a wholesale overhaul of his game. As the series progresses, observers will watch closely to see whether Root can adapt his approach and mitigate the LBW trend, or whether opponents will continue to exploit this perceived soft spot.
The ongoing debate underscores how even the most accomplished players must constantly evolve to stay ahead in the ever‑changing landscape of international cricket.