“What is this sorcery?” This bizarre video of Joe Root and his seemingly levitating bat has gone viral

Joe Root worked magic with his bat to lead England to victory in the first Test at Lord’s against New Zealand on Sunday. Root became just the second Englishman and 14th cricketer in Test cricket history to hit the 10,000 run mark. While the former England captain’s stunning achievement received plenty of praise, it was a bizarre video of Root standing at the non-attacking end that went viral.

“I knew @root66 was talented but not that magical……. What the sorcery is?” wrote a Twitter user, sharing a video of Root’s bat standing on its own.

I knew @root66 was gifted but not as magical as that……. What is this sorcery? @SkyCricket #ENGvNZ pic.twitter.com/yXdhlb1VcF

— Ben Joseph (@Ben_Howitt) June 5, 2022

Seriously, does this bat stand or is Joe Root even more of a magician?? @BumbleCricket @root66 #ENGvsNZ pic.twitter.com/bcHVvPngY4

— Webbo (@WebboOne) June 5, 2022

The video instantly went viral, with many trying to make sense of it.

Ok… Apparently Root now has flat-bottomed bats, not slightly curved as usual. https://t.co/ECL87LGevd

— Will Macpherson (@willis_macp) June 5, 2022

That’s what they say… Bat has a good balance 😉

I too did it once. pic.twitter.com/2TF29mpExr

—Charlie Joe (@CharlieJoe4) June 6, 2022

His bat is exceptionally square and flat at the bottom

— andrew walker (@wackerlegend) June 5, 2022

On Sunday, Root became the club’s latest participant of 10,000 runners in Test cricket, achieving the rare feat on day four of the opening Test against New Zealand on Sunday.

Root became only the second Englishman to reach the milestone after Alastair Cook and 14th overall. He hit the 10,000 run mark in his 218th inning, becoming the fastest England batter to do so.

Cook had reached the landmark in his 229th run. Incidentally, Root is also the youngest to reach the mark along with Cook, who both reached the milestone at the age of 31 years 157 days.

Promoted

Root scored an unbeaten 115 in the Lord’s Test to help England beat New Zealand by five wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the three-game series.

His magnificent century saved them from a 69/4 scoreline as they chased 277 at Lord’s to seal a victory in Ben Stokes’ first game as England Test captain.