JIMMY STILL A PEAKY BLINDER
Root backs Anderson to deliver
JOE ROOT has backed Jimmy Anderson to show the world he remains at the top of his game in the secondTest against Pakistan.
Root confirmed Anderson will get the chance to right the wrongs of Old Trafford when England look to wrap up the series in Southampton. “With Jimmy we know it won’t be long before he’s back at the top and at the peak of his powers and I’m very much looking forward to seeing him perform this week,” said the England captain. England’s leading wicket-taker admitted frustration had got the better of him after failing to hit the
TURNING the departure of his best player into a positive will be one of the more testing jobs Joe Root has had to execute this summer.
But the England captain did his best yesterday ahead of the second Test, insisting that Ben Stokes’ absence leaves the stage clear for somebody else to assume the role of superhero.
Five days after Jos Buttler and Chris Woakes donned their capes to get England home at Old Trafford, Root’s side go into battle again without their talisman. But his absence, attending to serious family matters back home in New Zealand, gives Root a chance to test others.
“It’s a huge loss for us,” said Root. “For a long period of time he’s been arguably our best player. He offers so much in all departments and he’s a leader within the group as vice-captain as well. Of course we’ll miss him but it’s an opportunity for someone to come in and try to fill those boots.
“That’s always the exciting thing for someone to come in and try to step up and help us go two up in the series.”
Root conceded he will miss Stokes as vice-captain, a man standing beside him at second slip who challenges his decision-making. “Ben thinks outside the box,” he said. “He sees things I don’t. Between us we come up with different ideas, have options, and that’s a good place to be – you don’t want a yes-man.”
Jos Buttler will be vicecaptain in his absence but Rory Burns, captain at Surrey, may well be given greater input into tactical thinking.
Zak Crawley, right, who was sacrificed when Stokes played as a batsman only, is given the chance to build on a promising secondinnings 76 against West
Indies in the first Test of the summer.
Root needed a half-fit Stokes to provide the spark against Pakistan with the ball at the end of day three at Old Trafford. His two quick wickets in only four overs in the match gave sight of the tourists’ tail.
This week he wants to see frontline bowling picks making things happen, particularly with the old ball.
With Jimmy Anderson backing himself into a corner by admitting he has dipped below his own standards of late, Root knows he will not leave an ounce of effort behind.
This is a big Test for Jofra Archer after poor efforts at Old Trafford against West Indies and against Pakistan last week, where his four wickets included just one recognised batsman.
“It won’t be long before we see a big performance from him.We’re all desperate to see him do well,” said Root, who admitted there will be spells when Archer fails to hit 90mph.
“All we can ask of him is that he keeps showing the desire and effort to keep getting up there towards those speeds,” he said.
“It’s not going to happen all the time and there’s more to him than just bowling fast. But it’s a great point of difference when you’ve got somebody capable of bowling at those speeds.
“It’s one of his great assets so it would be good to see him operating there for slightly longer periods of time.”