LONDON: It was only July when Joe Root started his tenure as England captain with a superb 190 at Lord’s as the home team swept South Africa aside. Root was at his usual, mercurial best and his fine form from his 2012 debut rolled on. It was the start of a glorious summer for the new, fresh-faced skipper as England notched a first home series win over the Proteas in almost twenty years.
Fast-forward to today, away from the green and overcast swing-bowling havens on home soil and Root is finding out about the harsh realities of captaining abroad. Not only has his lack of creativity, leadership or ability to adapt tactically been painfully obvious on the pitch, but his seemingly lenient approach to discipline off it has also cost England the urn.
Before the Ashes-losing debacle in Perth, the 26-year-old openly admitted that he underestimated how big a challenge captaining a touring side would be and the pressure of responsibility has undoubtedly affected his performance with the bat. But the same cannot be levelled at his Australian counterpart Steve Smith who has gone from strength to strength since being made captain in 2015. This Ashes was billed as a battle of the best batsmen in the world right now, yet only one has turned up.
It isn’t the first time seemingly infallible cricketers have buckled and wilted under the pressure of captaincy and it will not be the last. However, the difference this time is in Root, England have one of the finest, naturally talented batsmen of his generation. He has the potential to be his country’s greatest ever. It is perhaps a sad reflection of the lack of depth in English cricket that if Root stepped down, there is no viable option currently capable of taking up the mantle.
Therefore, looking beyond the Ashes, Root must adapt quickly to the role he has been given, be ruthless and find ways to win games outside of England. Otherwise, the burden of captaincy for the next three to five years looks set to rob him of his potential for greatness during arguably his peak years.
Joe Root needs to get to grips with captaincy for sake of own batting
Joe Root needs to get to grips with captaincy for sake of own batting
Real Sociedad end Barca winning streak to tighten Liga title race
- The Catalan giants, who hit the woodwork four times and had two goals disallowed, now only lead rivals Real Madrid by a single point at the top of the table
SAN SEBASTIAN, Spain: Real Sociedad damaged Barcelona’s title defense ambitions as Goncalo Guedes gave them a surprise 2-1 La Liga victory on Sunday as Hansi Flick’s side fell to a first defeat in 12 matches.
The Catalan giants, who hit the woodwork four times and had two goals disallowed, now only lead rivals Real Madrid by a single point at the top of the table after Alvaro Arbeloa’s side beat Levante on Saturday.
Hosts Real Sociedad, now unbeaten in four games under new American coach Pellegrino Matarazzo, had Carlos Soler sent off late on but managed to hold on to triumph and climb up to eighth.
“I think we deserved to win today, we had a lot of chances, but in the end you have to put them away,” Barca midfielder Frenkie de Jong told DAZN.
“We played well but we didn’t win... their goalkeeper had a very good game.”
Sociedad shot-stopper Alex Remiro made several crucial saves.
“Three great points and a great game,” said Remiro.
“We’ve started this year in great form... this is the energy we have, how we’ve changed (recently).”
In a frantic start to a compelling game at the rainy Reale Arena, both teams had goals ruled out.
La Real had the ball in the net inside 30 seconds when Mikel Oyarzabal headed home Guedes’s cross, but had strayed offside.
At the other end, Barcelona’s Fermin Lopez drilled home from range but Dani Olmo had committed a foul in the build-up and it was ruled out.
With teenage winger Lamine Yamal keen to take on defenders, Barca got in often down the right flank. The 18-year-old teed up Olmo who fired high over the bar when he might have sent the Catalans ahead.
Yamal found the net himself but the goal was ruled out for an extremely tight offside, before Real Sociedad took the lead against the run of play.
Oyarzabal lashed home Guedes’s cross with a blistering volley inside Joan Garcia’s near post.
Yamal was felled just inside the area before half-time but although the referee pointed to the spot, a VAR review showed that the youngster was offside again and it was canceled out.
Remiro heroics
Barcelona turned up the pressure in the second half and Real Sociedad were left depending on Remiro and the frame of the goal to keep the Catalans at bay.
Olmo crashed a shot against the post from Lopez’s cross and then Remiro denied the Barca midfielder with a fine near-post save.
Remiro then tipped substitute Robert Lewandowski’s header against the crossbar with the save of the night.
Another Barca substitute, Marcus Rashford, eventually pulled the champions level, heading Yamal’s cross home after 70 minutes.
However, the hosts immediately regained their advantage after Barca goalkeeper Garcia initially saved Carlos Soler’s shot. The midfielder was able to gather the rebound and cross for Guedes, who fired La Real ahead again.
They should have got a third when Garcia, out of his goal, had no chance of saving Oyarzabal’s effort but Pau Cubarsi headed the ball off the line.
Barcelona came within centimeters of an equalizer when Joao Cancelo, on his second debut for the club, crossed for Jules Kounde, who headed against the crossbar.
Soler was dismissed for an ugly foul on Pedri before nine minutes of stoppage time were added on.
Rashford hit the post directly from a corner kick as Barca pushed until the end but could not find a way through.
