Root: I am not scared of having to put up with grumpy fast bowlers
Joe Root had the perfect Test at Lord’s but he knows life will not always be so easy wearing the England captain’s cap.
Speaking in the Long Room at Trent Bridge, where his name is on the honours board for his century against Australia two years ago, Root admitted he was surprised how South Africa capitulated. It has given him the luxury of naming the same side for this game. Thus, England will field two spinners at Trent Bridge for the first time since 1995, when they picked Richard Illingworth and Mike Watkinson. Since then, it has been a seam bowler’s venue and James Anderson has made it his own with 53 wickets in eight Tests. He needs only one more to take his 300th in England.
Anderson and Stuart Broad are two of the most senior players in the squad, particularly Anderson, who pre-dates Alastair Cook. Both reacted well to the new captain at Lord’s, bowling the fuller length he asked for, but Root knows it will not always be so easy dealing with exhausted fast bowlers. “They were great in terms of understanding when I made certain decisions, especially Jimmy when I took him off in that first innings after a couple of overs,” said Root. “They were very helpful with plans and making sure we had the right approach of how to take them on, on that surface.
“It’s great to have so much experience in our bowling to help me out on occasions. They know what they bring to the table and how to get the best out of themselves. That makes my life easier. Of course, there will be times I have to put up with a grumpy fast bowler, but that is part of the job and I am looking forward to having to do that.”
He also expects South Africa to come back at England, with their captain Faf du Plessis retaking control of the team. “There is a little bit of me looking forward to that,” he said. “I’m fully aware that last week was the perfect start and there will be plenty of challenges. It will be interesting to see when that happens. It might well be this week and we’ll have to see what that brings and how I cope with it.”
Root admitted he was responsible for recalling Gary Ballance and asking him to bat at number three. The two are friends and he wanted someone he thinks he can rely on.
But Ballance is under pressure to score runs. “I thought the way he played in the second innings was probably worth at least double on that surface. Those guys at the top made it look a lot easier than it was,” said Root. “That was proved in the result. He put pressure back on the bowlers on occasions and he will be desperate to make his opportunity count this week.
“The most important thing for him is his weight distribution and that looks a lot better than it was maybe a year ago. He looks to me as if his game is in really good order and a big score is round the corner.”