Joe Root Uncharacteristic Duck Highlights England Early Struggles Against New Zealand

Joe Root’s rare slump continued as he was dismissed for a duck on the second day of the opening Test between England and New Zealand in Christchurch. This marked his 13th duck in Test cricket and his eighth in the World Test Championship, a statistic that has raised eyebrows, given his usual consistency across formats and conditions.

Root’s unfortunate dismissal came in the 150th Test of his illustrious career, making him just the third player in history to get out for a duck in this milestone match, joining the ranks of legends Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting.

The wicket, which fell to debutant Nathan Smith, was part of a disastrous spell for England. Smith struck twice in quick succession, sending back both Jacob Bethell and Root in the same over, reducing England to 45/3 from a stable 43/1. Root’s duck in this Test match added to an already rare sequence of low scores, as he has struggled to find his rhythm, amassing just 90 runs in his last five innings since his brilliant 262 against Pakistan in the Multan Test.

Root’s 13 ducks in Test cricket put him among the top batters with the most ducks in the format. He now shares this unenviable record with players like Kusal Mendis and Rory Burns, each of whom have had similar struggles. In addition, Root surpassed Virat Kohli and Steve Smith, who both have been dismissed for a duck seven times in their careers.

In his 150th Test, Root also became part of a select group—Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting had previously been dismissed for ducks in their landmark matches. Root’s early departure on the fourth ball of the innings left England reeling, but the team managed to regroup, as Ollie Pope and Harry Brook staged a vital fightback with an unbeaten century stand.

The New Zealand pacers had a significant say in England’s struggles, with the wicket offering enough assistance to test the batters’ resolve. Despite the challenging conditions, New Zealand’s 348-run first-innings total after winning the toss had put England under pressure. However, Pope and Brook’s partnership steadied the ship and gave England a fighting chance as the day drew to a close.

Root’s form continues to be a topic of discussion, but his resilience and ability to bounce back from setbacks remain key to England’s hopes in the ongoing Test series.