ROOT’S GOT REAL STEEL! Yorkie Joe a natural-born leader
SIR VIV RICHARDS is not surprised Joe Root is starting to prove he can handle the pressure of Test captaincy.
And the West Indies great insists it could all be down to the fact the England skipper is a Yorkshireman.
England’s whitewash in Sri Lanka has helped win over some of the critics who questioned Root’s leadership after last winter’s Ashes thrashing and the embarrassment against New Zealand which followed.
Since then, his side have since won eight of their last nine Tests – including a 4-1 series win over India during the summer.
Next up is a three-Test series in the Caribbean starting in Barbados on January 23.
Root, born in the steel city of Sheffield, flies out with the squad in a fortnight and Richards (above) feels he will enjoy leading England against West Indies. He said: “Joe Root is a Yorkshireman and he is from very good stock in terms of life and sport. “I like his attitude to the game, whether he is captaining the team or batting out there. “He is still a young man and may not look like a tough guy but when I was with Somerset I played under a Yorkshireman. That was the late, great Brian Close. “He was one of the hardest men I have ever met in my life. “There have also been the likes of Geoff Boycott and JOFRA ARCHER struck twice in two balls for Hobart Hurricanes as they beat Brisbane Heat in Australia’s Big Bash.
The Barbados-born quick, who is certain to be on England’s radar in March after the ECB changed its qualifying criteria, helped Hurricanes to a 16-run win.
He removed dangerman Ben Cutting (58 off 32) with Brisbane needing 23 from 10. Next ball he 2nd Test 3rd Test 2nd ODI 3rd ODI 5th ODI 1st T20 3rd T20 accounted for Mark Steketee to kill the hosts’ momentum and help secure victory.
Archer was not required to bat as Hobart posted 159-6.
After a calamitous run out accounted for Brendon McCullum early in Brisbane’s reply, Max Bryant (30) and Chris Lynn (29) laid the platform for Cutting to unleash some big hits.
But Archer’s pace in the penultimate over swung the game in the visitors’ favour. Meanwhile, the Windies beat Bangladesh in their deciding T20.
The West Indians took the series 2-1 thanks, in no small part, to Evin Lewis’ blistering 89 off 36 balls in a total of 190.
Bangladesh were all out for 140, with Keemu Paul taking 5-15.
The Bengal Tigers were flying at 67-1 but two controversial no-ball calls fired up captain Carlos Braithwaite and his men.