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Root shows the way by disarming spin threat

England star sets the example for touring batsmen with breakthrough innings in India

Joe Root's batting masterclass against spin helped England give India a rude awakening on the opening day of this five-match series.

Root’s quality has never been in doubt ever since he made a composed half-century on debut against these same opponents at Nagpur four years ago.

Since then the Yorkshireman has gone on to prove himself as one of the world’s best batsmen, occupying the same rarefied plane as Australia’s Steve Smith, Kane Williamson of New Zealand and India’s Virat Kohli.

Quick Single: Root breaks century drought to boost England

He showed just why on the first day of the Rajkot Test as he made a brilliant 124 to help manoeuvre England into a strong position against a heavily-fancied India.

The 25-year-old had never reached three figures in Asia, making five 50-plus scores in his six previous Tests away from home against India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Yadav catch controversy ends Root epic

This, though, was different as Root nullified the twin threat of India’s prolific spin pairing of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja during a 179-run stand with Moeen Ali that helped swing the early momentum of this match in England’s favour.

Coming less than two weeks after Alastair Cook’s side had been humiliated inside three days by Bangladesh in Dhaka, this was a big innings from Root.

If it did nothing else, it proved England’s fears over the turning ball, so ruthlessly exposed by teenage Bangladesh off-spinner Mehedi Hasan, could be tempered by the fact they have at least one batsman who looks in imperious form in such conditions.

Where Root led, Moeen followed, finishing a day that saw England reach stumps on 4-311 tantalisingly poised on 99.

Of Root’s 11 Test hundreds so far in his career, this was his third overseas, following innings of 182 against West Indies in Grenada and the 110 he made against South Africa in Johannesburg in January of this year.

England won on both of those occasions and, in a good omen for the tourists, they have never lost a Test in which Root has notched three figures.

And if Root’s knock sets up another victory here in Rajkot, it would send shockwaves through an Indian side that is not only ranked No.1 in the world but who have won 12 of their past 13 Test matches.

"It was very satisfying purely because it was in Asia, where I’d made starts before," Root said.

"There was a lot of talk before the series about me making big runs so it’s nice to do it early in the series.

India drops and Jadeja'a shocker to open Test

"That pressure is always there when you’re a senior batsmen in the side and you just have to learn to deal with it. I don’t think that’ll ever go away, and if you can’t hack it you’re not going to be there for very long.

"To start this series well is really pleasing and hopefully it’ll give me a lot of confidence going into the rest of it.

"It was important to start well and the way me and Mo played, without blowing my own trumpet, was really good and something that going forward will give us, and the rest of the guys, a lot of confidence.

"That’s going to be really important for us to build on as a team. If we can continue to do that as a batting order, it might be quite difficult for India to build that pressure."

Ashwin and Jadeja had taken 41 wickets between them during India’s recent 3-0 home whitewash of New Zealand.

However, Root’s confidence against the pair would have been instructive to England’s other batsmen in demystifying their threat.

"It wasn’t a specific approach," said Root.

"You’ve got to make sure you respect these guys who have been successful for long periods of time, and even for the previous series – but when it comes down to it, you can only play what’s in front of you.

"I thought we did that really well. The challenge is going to have to be doing it over five games. It’s a good start today, and we hope we can build on it and take the confidence forward."

Root was eventually dismissed when Umesh Yadav was judged by Rod Tucker, the Australian third umpire, to have cleanly held on to a contentious caught and bowled chance as England were reduced to 4-281 midway through the evening session.

Despite his initial disappointment, Root accepted the decision with good grace, admitting: "I set off walking, it was out, and there’s no point arguing about it.

"I was so disgusted with the shot but having seen the slow-mo replay it does look out."

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