Angelo Mathews: Sri Lanka batsmen ‘can learn a lot’ from Joe Root

Sri Lanka batsman Angelo Mathews has told his team-mates to watch and learn from Joe Root.
England hold a 1-0 lead heading into the second and final Test, which starts on Friday in Galle, with their captain’s superb double century a major reason for their advantage.
His ability to negate the spin, play late off the back foot and sweep with authority was an exemplary case of sub-continental batsmanship from a man brought up playing his game on the out-grounds of Sheffield.
And Mathews has paid him a big compliment by suggesting the home team should take their cues from him, even if they cannot mimic every thing in his arsenal.
“Joe Root, played a magnificent innings, we can learn a lot from he way he batted,” said Mathews.
“You have to find that tempo, especially in these conditions. A traditional Galle wicket is very slow and takes turn, so you need to be able to find out the shots according to each bowler.

“Some of the shots Root played, we can’t play. We need to be able to understand what we can and what we can’t do on these wickets against their bowlers. It’s not about being conservative – you always have to look to score runs – but you need to understand how you can score runs off these bowlers and in these conditions.”
Mathews was dismissed by Stuart Broad in the first innings of the series opener and, despite showing improving with a careful 71 at the next attempt, he will be more than happy if England follow expectations and rest the in-form seamer this week.
“We all know what kind of a bowler Broad is – he’s taken over 500 Test wickets and he’s one of the best fast bowlers going around on any kind of surface,” said Mathews.
“The wicket was not offering anything for the fast bowlers, but he was moving the ball. One spell I felt like I was playing in England against him because he was moving the ball (so much). That’s very difficult for a fast bowler to do in these conditions in Galle.”
Latest
-
News
Joe Root wants England to free themselves from fear in fourth Test against India
The tourists will be hoping to level the series at 2-2 when they start the final match in Ahmedabad.
-
News
Zak Crawley vows England will be more proactive in battle against India’s spin
Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel have run riot in helpful conditions.
-
News
Dale Steyn heaps praise on Pakistan trio, prefers PSL over IPL
Record South African fast bowler Dale Steyn is full of praise for Pakistan players Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Babar Azam.
-
News
Chris Gayle sets sights on third T20 World Cup title
West Indies veteran Chris Gayle has set his sights on winning a third T20 World Cup when he makes his return to international cricket.
-
News
Cricket in line to receive significant chunk of £300m sports recovery package
The England and Wales Cricket Board welcomed the support, describing it as “a lifeline for parts of the game”.
-
News
Marcus Trescothick relishing return to ‘special environment’ with England
Trescothick is England’s new batting coach.
-
News
Jack Leach feels here to stay after establishing himself as top England spinner
Leach made his debut almost three years ago in New Zealand but had made only 10 appearances before the turn of the year.
-
News
Kevin O’Brien says century against England helped Ireland ‘reach for the stars’
O’Brien hit a 50-ball 113 as Ireland chased down a target of 328 in the 2011 World Cup.
-
News
Ian Harvey is Gloucestershire interim coach after Richard Dawson joins England
Dawson has accepted the position of ECB elite pathway coach
-
News
Marcus Trescothick, Jon Lewis and Jeetan Patel join England’s coaching staff
Trescothick has left his assistant’s role at Somerset.