Who carry a hefty burden
At a glance
tour of South Africa in 2013 has Williamson gone four successive innings of 20 and under: 13 and 15 in Cape Town and 4 and 11 in Port Elizabeth.
Root said of his opposite number on test eve: ‘‘He’s one of the best players in the world so he’s obviously an important wicket.
‘‘I think, in general, targeting the first 20 balls of everyone’s innings in these conditions is going to be vital. The fact I know him personally and played with him at Yorkshire probably proves to me how good a player he is, what a hard worker he is and how much he thinks about the game.
‘‘I wouldn’t say that gives me an edge. I’m very excited for him to be able to lead his team in his home town.’’
Root has his own game, and team, to worry about.
Entering his 34th test as skipper, Root averages 29.72 this year after a lean Ashes series where his top score was 77 and he notched four half-centuries in 10 innings. Australia retained the urn with a 2-2 series draw.
It saw Root’s world batting ranking slip to No 7, and he moved down a spot in the batting order to his happier place at No 4. Questions continue about the burden of the test captaincy on Root, who averages 41 at the helm to Williamson’s 59.
‘‘No, I’m not concerned by it. I know I’ve not performed as I’d have liked in previous series – probably over the last year – but they are the challenges you face as an international player,’’ Root said.
‘‘It could have been exactly the same if I wasn’t captain. I’ve gone away and worked on a few things and think my game is in good order coming into this series.
That’s all part and parcel.
‘‘I’ve been through it before at different points of my career when I probably underperformed in my own mind. But I feel like a strong enough character, I still have the desire and desperation, to get back to where I was a couple of years ago and hopefully beyond that.’’
Williamson, too, wasn’t about to leap on an opportunity to score some pre-test points.
‘‘Joe’s a world class player and we’ve seen that for a number of years. We know he’s a big threat every time he walks out to the crease regardless of whatever history or numbers that have been.’’
The skippers have shaken hands and wished each other well. May the best man win, and if either dominates these next two tests with the bat they’ll most likely be the one grasping the silverware.