IT’S A ROOT TO SUCCESS Richards: South Africans will target new captain Joe early on HOW THE NUMBERS STACK UP
England’s new Test leader will be targeted by Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel and the rest of the Proteas quickies determined to turn his dream job into a nightmare. That’s according t o l egendary batsman Barry Richards who claims his fellow countrymen would love nothing more than to ruin Root’s big gig. Having taken over the reins from Alastair Cook five months ago, Yorkshire star Root has insisted he is excited and keen to make an immediate impact in his first game in charge. But ahead of the Investec Test Series, Richard s (right) warned the Tyke things will get hot in the middle when he walks out to bat at the Home of Cricket. He said: “I think the South Africans will be going after Root. Not just because he is suddenly the new England captain but also because he happens to be their leading runscorer and most dangerous batsman. “He will come under a lot of discussion in the build-up, in the dressing room and then when he walks out to bat . They will not want him to get off to a good start and the fact that it is at Lord’s adds something extra to the occasion. “Root is a great talent and plays the game with a smile. “I love wat ching hi m p l ay because he enjoys his c r i c ke t s o much and is a real f ighter. GARY FITZGERALD But there is a lot more responsibility and pressure on his shoulders now that he is the England captain – it will be interesting to see how he copes with it.”
On the flip side, Richards expects England to firmly target the wicket of the prolific Hashim Amla who needs just 48 runs to join the elite band of players to have amassed 8,000 Test runs.
The ex-Hampshire opener added: “He’s still a class act but everything that used to work at 25 doesn’t necessarily work so well at 34. I’m sure England will want to exploit that and see his wicket as a key one to take. “Hashim will need to be at the top of his game. One of the central points of the series is Amla versus fast bowlers and Amla versus himself.” On where his captain will bat, England coach Trevor Bayliss prefers him at No.3. The Aussie said: “Personally I would have him at three because you want to have your best batsman in that position in the order.
“Joe has the ability and qualities to bat anywhere in the top six.
“The way he goes about his cricket is always positive. I expect the way he captains will be similar.”
Bayliss is excited about the impact Cook can now have with the bat.
He has been smashing runs for fun for Division One leaders Essex and Bayliss said: “It has certainly taken a load of weight off his mind. His form’s been top class.
“The amount of runs he has scored has shown what good form he is in and where he is mentally and physically.
“It’s not about the captaincy and playing, it’s probably everything else. He is free of all that and can focus on playing and scoring runs.
“Everyone knows how well Cooky and Rooty get on so I expect if Joe needs any advice or help out there he knows Alastair will be happy to give it him.”
Gary Ballance was yesterday recalled and given a third chance with England after being dumped during a poor 2016 season.
However, South Africa captain Faf du Plessis is doubtful for Lord’s after he returned home for what proved the “difficult” birth of his first child.
England squad: Joe Root (cpt), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow (wkt), Gary Ballance, Stuart Broad, Alastair Cook, Liam Dawson, Keaton Jennings, Toby Roland-Jones, Ben Stokes, Mark Wood AS England prepare to begin the four-Test series against South Africa on Thursday, we look at all the stats and facts.
Test series won by England against South Africa since the latter’s readmission to Test cricket in 1991. That came in 1998 with defeats in 2008 and 2012.
Africa hold the win-loss advantage over England since readmission, with 17 draws.
winning margin in both the one-day and T20 international series on this Proteas tour.
gap between the teams in the ICC Test rankings. South Africa are second on 117 and England fourth on 99. A 4-0 win would lift England ahead of their visitors while defeat by at least two Tests would drop them behind New Zealand into fifth.
Africa’s Hashim Amla leads all active players in runs in Tests between the two sides. Compatriot Bruce Mitchell holds the all-time record with 2,732.
James Anderson is the top active wicket-taker, 27 adrift of the record held by South Africa’s Shaun Pollock.
since England’s last Test action in India.
since Joe Root was named as England’s Test captain, succeeding Alastair Cook.