Root happy in the ranks before baptism of fire
Chris Stocks on the mindset of the new England Test captain as he awaits his leadership challenge
Joe Root may not possess the raw power of some of his England one-day team-mates but he is likely to be the glue that holds together the top six across all formats in the coming months.
The first half of England’s year is dominated by 50-over cricket, culminating in the Champions Trophy on home soil in June.
Root then starts his tenure as Test captain. South Africa at home is his first assignment as the successor to Alastair Cook. Next winter’s Ashes, though, are the big target that hover on the horizon and that trip to Australia will define the early part of Root’s captaincy.
Talk of whether Root’s form with the bat will be affected by the extra responsibility was rife before he was handed the job.
However, the early signs here in the Caribbean have been that he is approaching the year in positive mood and, for now at least, he is enjoying just being back in the ranks under the leadership of one-day captain Eoin Morgan.
“It’s nice to come back into the team and slot in as if nothing’s changed,” said Root. “It’s a very settled one-day set up with Morgs in charge and he’s done a fantastic job.
“We all know what our roles are within the squad leading into a major tournament and how important it is to gain momentum ahead of what is going to be a really important summer for us in white-ball cricket.”
Root’s match-winning unbeaten 90 during England’s four-wicket win in Antigua last Sunday was also encouraging. The Yorkshireman may have missed out on a ninth ODI century through no fault of his own – he simply ran out of runs.
Yet after a two-year period where the one fault in his game has been a frustrating failure to regularly convert half-centuries, this was an innings that bodes well for the future.
“It was a nice change to still be there at the end,” he said. “It’s very pleasing to get through that tough period and be there not out at the end.
“It’s something as a batsman when you’re chasing scores you really pride yourself on and we always talk in the dressing-room about being there in the end and making sure you’ve taken the responsibility to finish things off and win the game.
“On that note it’s really pleasing I managed to do that.”
An in-form Root would be a huge advantage for England come the Champions Trophy.
But unlike in Test cricket – where England have often become overreliant on his runs – the number of potential match-winners in the oneday side perhaps takes the pressure off Root.
“What’s been really good about this side over a long period now is that at no point have we been reliant on a couple of players,” he said.
“Throughout a good chunk of 18 months, different guys have stood up and been counted and put in performances. We all dovetail pretty well.
“We’re not reliant on certain individuals and that puts us in a good place come that major tournament in the summer.”
Beyond that major tournament, Root’s summer then starts to get serious with that maiden Test series as captain against South Africa that starts in July.
“I like to think we’ve 11 guys who think about the team as a captain and one guy who ultimately goes out there and does it,” he said.
“I think we’ve a great squad of players not just 11 and it’s nice to be given the responsibility to lead a talented bunch. I just want to put my stamp on things and, hopefully, that can help us improve and develop, and become a better team.”
As for his form with the bat, Root says: “All I can do is prepare exactly as I have when it comes to my batting. It’s a great motivator to make sure I do everything I can to get my batting in the best place possible and set the example for the rest of the guys in the team.”
The real examination of how the role will affect Root’s form will come in Australia later this year.
England’s Ashes tour, which follows the busiest and longest international summer of all time, starts on October 29. Those that play all formats could be away from home until early April 2018 given the tour of New Zealand follows on straight after.
It seems unthinkable anybody will be asked to play all of the winter – burnout is a major issue with that crazy schedule.
Yet Root, one player who in theory could do that, says he is keen not to be rested from limited-overs cricket.
“I definitely think so, that’s one thing I want to do,” he said. “The more cricket and experience I can get along the way the better, and one-day cricket is part of that.”
It’s nice to come back into the team and slot in as if nothing’s changed. It’s a settled one-day set up with Morgs in charge, he’s done a fantastic job