Editing Fred Root (section)

== Worcestershire ==

Root moved to [[Worcestershire County Cricket Club|Worcestershire]] in 1921 after two seasons in league cricket. After a season and a half when he failed to establish himself as an orthodox right-arm [[fast bowling|fast medium bowler]], Root became an exponent of the [[leg theory]] style of bowling, and achieved great success with it. His ability to swing the ball in and make it gain pace off the ground made him very difficult on anything like a fiery pitch, whilst his powerful physique and consequent stamina made Root respected even on pitches giving bowlers no assistance. In 1923 he took 170 wickets for 20.53 each and 153 for less than 17 each in 1924, but spoilt his chances of going on that winter's [[Ashes series|Ashes tour]] with a poor performance for the Players at [[The Oval]] on a pitch that should have suited him.

His character may be summed up by an event in a match against [[Glamorgan County Cricket Club|Glamorgan]]. The batsmen, [[Arnold Dyson]] and [[William Bates (cricketer)|Eddie Bates]], had collided mid-pitch, and the ball was returned to Root, the bowler. Root didn't break the stumps, as both batsmen seemed injured. An amateur repeatedly shouted, "Break the wicket, Fred, break the wicket!" until Root said: "If you want to run him out, here's the ball: you come and do it." The amateur responded with the words, "Oh, I'm an amateur. ''I'' can't do such a thing."<ref>Haigh, Gideon: ''Silent Revolutions: Writings on Cricket History'' 9781845132262</ref>