Why Joe Root Isn’t Just Scoring Runs—He’s Collecting Cricketing Masterpieces

You know those batters who are thrilling to watch, smashing sixes and playing incredible shots? Yeah, Joe Root isn’t that guy. At least not in the traditional sense. And yet, match after match, series after series, Root ends up with a bucket-load of runs. Quietly. Effectively. Almost like he’s doing it to collect rare stamps. I recently saw a cricket analyst call him the “Chief Collector”—and it’s hard to disagree with it. But what does Root have? Why is his batting so effective, even without the fireworks? Let’s take a look at what makes this Englishman perhaps one of the most special batters of this modern day.

The Art of Collection, Not Destruction

The way Root bats is much more about accumulation than it is about domination. Think of him as the marathon runner in a world of sprinters. While players around him generate their runs via boundaries, he will focus on singles, twos, and placement. That is where the commentators were referring to when they referred to him as a “collector.”

It’s not that he can’t hit; he can, but his real strength is in reading the game, the pitch, and working the game accurately. On a flat deck? He’ll work angles. On a sticky wicket? He will push through to tire them out. It is a skill that resembles great players in the past like Sachin Tendulkar in his later years or Sunil Gavaskar in his prime – players who needed to use no flair to instill fear.

Technique That Ages Like Fine Wine

One reason Root remains in great shape is because of his textbook technique. Whether he is playing spin in Galle or pace at Lord’s, his balance, footwork, and shot selection remain consistent and don’t come apart. It isn’t robotic either; his technique and skill have some slight alterations to stay in touch with modern demand.

His shuffle over the stumps is a great example. It allows him to play the ball better on the leg side, allowing more options to play. His flicks against spinners, which help him with options to rotate the strike using a similar wrist movement in the delicate flick, are one aspect that makes him so good. It is straightforward; he does not premeditate too much, hence does not get tied down.

Mental Game: Calm, Calculated, Clinical

The source of Root’s power is in his head; he is a mentally robust player. He does not seek milestones, nor does he obsess if he has lean spells. When he moves to the crease, he exudes calmness, as if he knows what he has to do and that nobody or anything will distract him, whether it be sledging or scoreboard pressure.

Do you remember his series against India in 2021? In tough conditions and with great spinners, Root scored an average of almost 95. That’s not just form – that is an extraordinary command of mind and muscle. Whether his captaincy came or went, the mental strength and composure remain, and possibly sharper now that he gets to focus purely on batting.

Even with headlines going towards other players with more flamboyant styles, Root consistently still does Root things like scoring centuries, anchoring innings, and humbly walking off with a nod to the dressing room. That sort of consistency is not just rare; it’s elite.

So, when do we start appreciating the “collectors” of cricket as much as the “destroyers?” Let us know – who is your favourite under-the-radar match-winner?