Further worries for Root ahead of Test
JOE Root insists he cannot afford to start feeling sorry for himself - even as England’s worries deepen before the second Test against Pakistan, which starts at Headingley today.
Root must navigate further uncertainty over the availability of Ben Stokes, who faces a late fitness test after scans on his sore hamstring, as England seek to avoid a third successive series defeat.
Root has given his full support to coach Trevor Bayliss to arrest a worrying slide.
If Stokes is unfit, Sam Curran may make his debut.
Either way, Root could perhaps be forgiven for ruing his luck, but he is not about to do that.
“There is no place for ‘poor me’s’ in international sport,” said the Yorkshireman, whose team have lost six of their last eight matches including a 4-0 Ashes trouncing.
“Sometimes you’re a little low on confidence after a difficult winter you’ve got to get over that.
“It’s very easy to feel sorry for yourself when things aren’t going well.
“(But) you look at the best players in the world, best captains in the world, I’m sure they have the approach of going out there and being determined to put it right maybe being a little bit stubborn at times and maybe wanting to prove a point to certain people.
“I think that can be a really good driver for all the guys.”
Bayliss has acquired his critics of late, but Root said: “I love working with Trev. I don’t see why there is need for a change.
“We’ve been below par the last six months, and I think the easy thing is the knee-jerk reaction - change everything completely.”