James Anderson My verdict on captain Root
New captain was always looking to attack at Lord’s and he handled the bowlers superbly
It was obvious at Lord’s that Joe Root was trying to put his own stamp on the team. Alastair Cook was very respectful of that and let him do his own thing. He offered advice when Joe asked for it but left him to run the team. I thought Joe was probably a little nervous on the warm-up days, in particular when speaking to the group. He wanted to ensure what he said was just right and I think he only really settled down after his big first-innings hundred.
Perhaps I was expecting him to say more as captain but, on reflection, I think it says a lot about the group that we know exactly how to prepare for a game and maintain our standards during a match, so the captain does not have to say an awful lot.
The way he managed the bowlers in the field was top drawer. He was very attackminded and was always looking to put an extra catcher in or asking where we could fit one in. When the spinners were bowling he was always seeking to put in a silly point or an extra slip. He was very positive in that respect, but, at the same time, he would always listen to your ideas to try to figure out what was the best way to get a wicket on what was a slow pitch for the seamers.
On that pitch, we thought the new ball would be key for breakthroughs and Joe wanted his catchers in straight away. When the ball was older, we had a square catcher at cover, where we dismissed Quinton de Kock, so it paid off for Joe to be so attacking.
With Joe having batted on the wicket, he realised the new ball was going to be important and he relayed that to us. We generally start with at least three slips and a gully but we were a little more attacking because of what Joe said.
It is important the communication is clear. The information we are fed back from the batsmen, who have been out there for a while, really helps us.
When he took me off after two overs of my second spell it was frustrating. I wanted a long run and you never want to bowl just a two-over spell. I knew it was with the idea that I would be next on at the other end, but it is still frustrating. I guess, as a bowler, that frustration spurs you on to bowl as well as you can so the captain does not take you off again after two overs. It is cod psychology.
Joe will have to learn how and when to switch off. It is great for us to see him like that with the frame of mind of constantly thinking how the team are going to win the game. He has always been like that with the bat but now it is even more important when he is in the field.
He is not one for making big speeches. But because Joe is quietly spoken, it makes everyone pay attention because you have to listen carefully to hear him. What he does say is clear and short and that is a result of the environment that has been created over the past couple of years by Trevor Bayliss. He hates waffle. He wants people to be concise and to the point and that is exactly what Joe thinks, too. If there is nothing to be said, he will not say anything. Sometimes, it can be hard to resist the temptation to say something for the sake of it, but Joe will not be like that.
The more he captains, the more he will grow into it. Right now you cannot say what style or personality he will have as a captain. It is too early.
After the match at Lord’s, he was conscious of not getting carried away. It was a good win but he just wanted to build on it. He has said exactly the same since arriving in Nottingham. It is a clean slate and we have to build again.