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 problem. In the second Test against Pakistan, Root was dismissed lbw on two occasions, taking his season total to seven LBWs and nine dismissals of that type in his last twelve Test innings. Such a pattern has sparked a lively debate among pundits and fans alike. Sky Sports veteran Michael Atherton highlighted the paradox of a player of Root’s calibre—over 160 Tests, a career average north of 50, and widely regarded as one of England’s finest batsmen—still being targeted for a perceived weakness.
Atherton noted that the modern game has evolved dramatically. In earlier eras bowlers often tried to draw the batsman into playing at the outside edge, delivering deliveries that moved away from the bat and creating chances in the slip cordon.
The classic strategy was to bowl around the off‑stump or in the channel, hoping the ball would swing away and tempt a glancing edge. Today, however, many bowlers in England have shifted their focus toward the wobble‑seam delivery, a ball that pitches on the seam and then deviates sharply back into the batsman. This change has led to a noticeable rise in both bowled and LBW dismissals throughout the summer, and opponents are now actively seeking to exploit what they see as a slight vulnerability in Root’s technique. Atherton also pointed out an additional factor: the role of the wicket‑keeper.
When a keeper stands up to the stumps for medium‑pace bowlers such as Matt Henry or Mohammad Abbas, the batsman is forced to stay closer to the crease. This proximity increases the likelihood of an LBW decision because the ball reaches the pads more quickly, leaving less time for the batsman to adjust his stance or play a defensive shot.
Root’s second‑innings dismissal to Pakistan pacer Mohammad Ali illustrated this scenario perfectly. Ali produced a delivery that nipped sharply after pitching, beating Root’s outside edge and striking the pad in line with the stumps. Former England captain Nasser Hussain weighed in, suggesting that the combination of outswing and wobble‑seam bowling is a key contributor to Root’s recent LBW troubles.
Hussain explained that when a ball moves away, a batsman instinctively tries to protect the outside edge by presenting the front pad, a move that can backfire if the ball then swings back in. "When you see the ball moving away, you naturally go to cover the edge," Hussain said.
"Root will go across with that front pad, and because the ball is doing so much this summer, any batter will adopt a similar approach. The wobble‑seam then comes back in, leaving you with just a few inches to cover a ball that has moved away and then returned." He drew a parallel with the late Australian bowler Terry Alderman, who famously used a sequence of outswingers followed by a sharply moving ball to set up batsmen like Graham Gooch.
Gooch eventually altered his technique, playing more straight and back rather than reaching across. Hussain observed that at his best, Root is a straight‑line player who moves back and forth in line with the ball, but the current conditions force him to reach across, exposing his pads to LBW chances.
Low bounce on the Lord’s surface also compounds the issue. When the pitch offers less bounce, the ball stays lower, making the stumps more accessible and increasing the probability of an LBW.
Bowlers are therefore content to bowl a length that consistently targets the pads and the stumps, knowing that the conditions favor such a strategy. Despite the challenges, Atherton gave credit to the bowlers for their skillful execution of this modern approach. Teams from England, New Zealand and Pakistan have all demonstrated the ability to swing the ball away and then employ the wobble‑seam to bring it back in, creating a dual threat that tests even the most technically sound batsmen.
The dilemma for Root, according to Atherton, is whether he should try to eliminate the LBW risk by playing more openly and leaving a wider line, which could in turn make him more susceptible to edges and catches behind the wicket. "If Root tells himself, 'I will take the LBW out of the equation and open up a bit', he becomes more vulnerable to the outside edge," Atherton warned. This strategic tug‑of‑war underscores the complexity and beauty of Test cricket, where bowlers and batsmen constantly adapt to each other's tactics.
In summary, Root’s recent LBW dismissals are not solely a personal flaw but a reflection of broader trends in modern Test bowling: the increased use of wobble‑seam deliveries, strategic placement of keepers, and low‑bounce pitches that together create a fertile environment for leg‑before‑wicket outcomes. While Root may need to make subtle adjustments—perhaps focusing on a more upright stance, keeping his pad closer to the middle stump, or refining his footwork against moving deliveries—the challenge also highlights the evolving nature of the sport. As teams continue to innovate, even the most accomplished batsmen must constantly reassess their techniques to stay ahead of the game.