Joe starts to hatch a plan for the Ashes
It might not be his first assignment as England captain but Joe Root admits he is already thinking about this winter’s Ashes tour. Speaking at his home ground of headingley, where six weeks ago he was unveiled as Alastair Cook’s successor, the 26-year-old revealed that he has been getting his early-morning television fixes of Australia’s recent series defeat by india.
that has given him time for reflection not only on how he wants his team to play but also his own role within it.
While other leading batsmen in the world — such as Australia’s Steve Smith and Kane Williamson of New Zealand — bat at No 3, Sportsmail understands Root is keen to return to the No 4 position he occupied until last year.
‘Yeah, they do bat at three, but if that’s not going to be the best place for me, i will bat at four,’ he said. ‘i don’t think it will be a big, difficult transition. i played a number of tests at four and was very comfortable there. i’ve got used to batting at three. But it’s just what suits me the best and what at the time feels right for me and looks best on paper for the rest of the guys.
‘i’ve talked to a lot of people in the last few weeks — some current players and some ex-players — but one thing that’s really stuck out is “just make sure you look after your own game and concentrate on scoring as many runs as possible”.
‘that might come across as quite selfish but i think it’s going to be very important for me, mentally as well, that i put in the work and the hard yards in practice and set the right example when the opportunities arise.’
Nowhere will the pressure be greater to do that than in Australia when England attempt to retain the urn next winter. And for Root that series has personal significance.
For it was the scene of his lowest ebb in international cricket: out of form and out of confidence against mitchell Johnsoninspired opposition, he was axed for the final test of the 2013- 14 whitewash — the only time he has suffered such a fate in a 53-cap career.
One of his responsibilities now, he suggests, will be to get the team’s freshers such as haseeb hameed and Keaton Jennings ready for a series like no other. ‘i won’t be caught cold,’ said Root. ‘i know what to expect from what can be quite a hostile environment. that first test match, when i walked out to bat, i think it did hit me quite hard. ‘it was like i walked into a conservatory door, not aware at all that it was there. ‘But i will be slightly more aware and i think it’s very important that the guys who haven’t been there get a good idea of what it can be like. ‘Not be afraid of it, but embrace it and try and enjoy it. it’s not always easy to enjoy it, but that tour is a great opportunity for this team. We’ve got to make sure we play some good cricket and start improving all the time in between. there’s a massive series against South Africa first.’ there is also plenty of work to be done behind the scenes by his bosses this summer, with the England and Wales Cricket Board negotiating for their proposed eight-team franchise twenty20 tournament to be broadcast partly on terrestrial television.
Although Root has played exclusively in the satellite era of Sky and Bt Sport, he was weaned on Channel 4’s coverage in the Noughties and believes it is important for cricket’s growth that it returns to the mainstream.
‘i was very fortunate to be able to turn on the television on a Saturday morning and watch The
Cricket Show. then i would go down and watch dad play at the club in the afternoon,’ he said.
‘the more opportunities we can give to kids on a broader spectrum — even if it is highlights packages — is important.
‘Sky continue to make it interesting to viewers but you can’t beat the fact that it is going to be available to everyone and not just those who are subscribing.’