World Cup 2023: 'Some of the noises he was making' - Joe Root gives chilling details from ENG vs SA match in Mumbai

Add as a preferred source on Google

World Cup 2023: Joe Root has made a chilling narration over the hot and humid conditions England and South Africa players had to face during the 20th match of the World Cup 2023 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

In the match, England were hammered for 399 runs before being bundled out for 170 in just 22 overs. They lost the match by 229 runs - their biggest ODI defeat in terms of run.

“I’ve not played in anything like that before. I’ve obviously played in hotter conditions, and probably more humid conditions. But it just felt like you couldn’t get your breath. It was like you were eating the air. It was unique," Joe Root said, talking about Saturday's defeat.

“You could see it with [Heinrich] Klaasen. You could see how much it took out of him, not being able to get back out onto the field," Joe Root, who scored 2 off six balls in the match, said.

World Cup 2023: Root reveals Rashid couldn't breathe

Joe Root talked about "some of the noises" made by Adil Rashid while bowling, saying that the spinner was finding it difficult even to breathe. Root added that jerseys of the players were soaking wet as soon as they opted to field.

“I mean you couldn’t get away from it. You walk out onto the field and your shirt’s soaking wet, and you have a lot heavier breath than you would do, and you know you’ve done your fitness and stuff, it’s not like you’re short on that. So you are very aware of it,” said Root.

“Rash [Rashid], bless him, I don’t think was great going into the game. He put in a brilliant performance for us. Some of the noises he was making when he was walking back to his mark summed it up, really. Trying to get his breath back. It was tough, but that’s the sort of stuff that you come up against and contend with when you come out to play in India at this time of year.”

The defeat was England's third in four matches. They are currently reeling at the bottom of the 10-team points table. The Jos Buttler-led side will face Sri Lanka at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Thursday before flying to Lucknow where they will lock horns against host India at the Ekana Stadium on Sunday, October 29.