ROOT: WE MUST BE FIGHTING FIT
JOE ROOT has told his team to take a leaf out of Ben Stokes’ book in demanding supreme levels of fitness and intensity as befits an international sports team. On the eve of the first Test of the summer, and with the misery of a winless winter firmly in the rearview mirror, Root cut a focused leader, clear on what he now expects from his men – and the penny appears to have dropped. Players such as Mark Stoneman are visibly trimmer and fitter than ever, while the return of Stokes for his first game in England since the incident in September which led to him being charged with affray, is helping to set the bar higher than it was in Australia. “It’s great to have him back, you can see he’s buzzing and desperate to get back out there,” said Root, who has upheld the team’s midnight curfew. “Ben sets the standard in training and lads like having him around – he adds a lot to this team. “He’s a stand-out. If you watch a whole session, he does everything at match intensity and helps drive it and he takes people with him. “I wanted more than anything at the start of this year to set down how we go about things going forward, regardless of what’s gone before, this is the standard we need to meet and this is what I expect from us.
“We’ve spent enough time speaking about the winter and the lessons we need to get right, it’s now about going and doing it.
“More than anything I want to see a few lads grow and make sure we’re maximising our chance to be consistent and more successful everywhere we play. All round become more skilful and prepared for longer series.”
There is a long and demanding five-match series to come at the back end of the summer against India, which will be a huge test for Root’s new regime. But before that Pakistan will not be a pushover at Lord’s and Headingley.
They will have the dangerous left-arm skills of Mohammed Amir to cope with, as well as the leg-spin talents of Shadab Khan. And Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed thinks England confidence could be low.
Sarfraz said: “If you see England’s last four months they’re not good. They lost the Ashes in Australia and didn’t have good time in New Zealand.
“They’re also playing in their home conditions and they will be tough opponents, but hopefully we will beat them.”