With every passing day, England's refreshed approach in Test cricket under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum is leaving viewers more in awe with their exciting brand of cricket. While the likes of Stokes and Jonny Bairstow have thrilled fans with their aggressive batting, even Joe Root, who is considered a more traditional Test batter, is getting in on the act. During Day 4 of the ongoing third Test against New Zealand at Headingley in Leeds, with England chasing 296 to complete a series sweep, Root brought out an outrageous reverse-scoop off pacer Neil Wagner to leave Twitter astonished.
The left-handed Wagner, running in from over the wicket, bowled one full and across Root, and England's star batter was quick to change stance and scoop the ball over the third man boundary.
Sharing the video on Twitter, the England Cricket Board simply wrote: "Joe Root. You are ridiculous."
Watch: Joe Root's audacious shot off Neil Wagner
The shot sent Twitter into a frenzy, with fans lauding England's "ridiculous" approach in the longest format of the game.
Joe Root, who has already hit two centuries in the season, finished the day unbeaten on 55, while Ollie Pope was batting on 81. England were 183/2 at Stumps on Day 4, needing another 113 runs to win the match and complete a 3-0 whitewash over the Kiwis.
New Zealand had scored 329 in their first innings thanks to Daryl Mitchell's third century in as many matches this series.
However, a stunning 157-ball 162 from Jonny Bairstow and a 97-run knock from Jamie Overton on debut saw England score 360 and take a 31-run first-innings lead.
Half-centuries from Tom Blundell, Tom Latham and Daryl Mitchell then helped New Zealand set England a 296-run target.