Cheeky chappie elder statesman

Peter Hayter looks at how Joe Root has matured on and off the pitch and how turning ‘boring’ may be to England’s advantage

Joe Root’s brilliant 254 in the second Investec Test against Pakistan at Old Trafford was every run the innings of an England captain-in–waiting.

And the 25-year-old vice-skipper believes he is getting readier by the day to cope with the extra responsibility of leadership when, rather than if, he is asked to take over from Alastair Cook – not least because he is a “bit more boring” than when he arrived in the England dressing room four years ago.

For some, notably former Test team-mate Graeme Swann, making Root captain at all would be a disaster for him and for England, as it would force him to dampen his influence as a dressing room joker, which would adversely affect his freedom to express himself with the bat.

Swann is utterly adamant, saying: “Joe Root is going to be a massive part of England’s future, but he should definitely never be England captain.

“Joe is a natural joker, a jester, a windup merchant and a general breath of fresh air around the dressing room.

“To be captain he would need to change and become more mature. If you take the sense of fun away from him he’d be half the player.”

Root says he has no problem with the Ashes winner’s words of warning, insisting: “It doesn’t bother me. I am not out for Cooky’s job – Swanny’s entitled to his opinion. I just want to keep contributing and helping out as vice-captain at the moment and do as much for the team as possible to help win series.”

But, as to whether he believes he will bring the necessary gravitas to the role when the time comes, Root is keen to confirm the thoughts of the former Test-star-turned BBC radio commentator do not tally with his own.

Asked if and how he has changed since he bounced, Tigger-like, into the England set-up on the 2012 tour to India, Root admits: “I think I am slightly more mature, and probably a bit more boring.

“I suppose you do grow up, in this environment. The personnel changes and you come from being the kid or the baby in the side to having a little bit more responsibility.

“I like to think I still have a laugh and a good time with the lads in the dressing room, but I definitely try to be a bit more senior within that environment.”

That approach was reflected in his change of heart over moving up the order from four to three, an idea he shied away from when it was initially proposed at the start of the summer, but which has now become a pointer to his development as a batsman and future leader.

Root explains: “When it was first mentioned I was very happy where I was

I like to think I still have a laugh and a good time in the dressing room, but I definitely try to be a bit more senior in that environment -JoeRoot