Thu Feb 06 15:46:05 UTC 2025: ## Root’s “Nelson Moment” Highlights England’s ODI Struggle Against India
**Nagpur, India** – England’s star batsman Joe Root fell victim to a “Nelson Moment” during the first ODI against India in Nagpur on February 6th, adding a touch of superstition to the tense match. Root was dismissed LBW by Ravindra Jadeja for 111 runs, a score considered unlucky in cricket due to its association with the number 111, representing the three stumps without bails.
England, after opting to bat first, adopted an aggressive approach, scoring runs at a brisk pace before Root’s dismissal. At the time of Root’s exit, England had reached 111/4. Phil Salt (43), Jos Buttler (55), Ben Duckett (32), and Jacob Bethall (30*) were the other significant contributors to England’s score of 170/5 after 33 overs at the time of reporting. Harshit Rana claimed three wickets for India, while Axar Patel and Jadeja each took one.
The term “Nelson,” referring to scores of 111 or multiples thereof (222, 333 etc.), is linked to the erroneous belief that Admiral Lord Nelson had only one eye, one arm, and one leg. The origin of the superstition is debated, with some suggesting the association is merely a coincidence related to the visual resemblance to the three stumps. Regardless of origin, the “Nelson” remains a curious and occasionally talked about aspect of cricket folklore. The match continues.
First Piper 