Moores hails England captain’s determination to keep improving
Peter Moores is embracing the opportunity to work alongside Joe Root again and believes what places the England Test captain among the world’s elite batsmen is his desire to continue evolving.
Root was one of six Yorkshire players selected in England’s 55-man training group but, rather than return to Headingley, the 29-year-old is this week holding his individual session sat Trent Bridge.
As he prepares for next month’ s Test series against the West Indies, Root has reunited with former England head coach Mo or es, now at the helm of Nottinghamshire and someonewhose input the Yorkshire man clearly values.
Root openly thanked Moores shortly after the latter’s second stint in charge of the national side came to an abrupt end in May 2015. Under Mo or es’ stewardship, Root amassed 1,135 Test runs at an average of 95.
Moores said: “At the time when he said that, it was a nice comfort in a time that was a tough time for me. But things move on and to re connect with Joe now several years on and be able to spend a bit of time togethercoaching him and working with him is lovely.
“We’ve just started doing our first week so like most things I’ ll watch and we’ ll work through things. Things come up as you’re coaching and often those things are things you’ll work through together and they’re refinements.
“People seem to think there’s often some mystical thing out there but often the top-flight players have brilliantbasics; their balance, their alignment, those things are really, really good.
“What’s refreshing for me working with someone like Joe again is you see traits that go with really good players: they’re open, they’re good to work with because they’re looking to move their game forward all the time.
“Top-flight players don’t stand still, they keep moving. We see it with Jimmy Anderson as a bowler, we see it with Joe Root as a batter, we see it with Ben Stokes as an all-rounder.”
Another batsman who may benefit from Mo or es’ guidance is Haseeb Hameed, who joined Nottinghamshire over the winterafter a dramatic loss of form in the last couple of years at Lancashire.
From-being-fast-tracked-into the England side as a teenager four years ago, Hameed’s form nosedived to the extent that he spent much of 2019 playing for the Red Rose’s second XI. While Hameed is currently furloughed along with there st of Nottinghamshire’ s playing staff because of the global coronavirus pandemic, Moores thinks a change of scenery could be just what the 23-year-old needs.
Moores, who is optimistic there will be some county cricket in August and Septemberthis year, added :“Has is one of those players who wants to master the craft of batting, he loves batting, and I think and hope we’re a good fit for him because I’m passionate about helping him do that.
“He’ s been through the classic journey for me: started like a train, got into the England side and then went into what is probably whatever you want to call ‘the search’ when you’re looking for more even though sometimes you don’t need it.
“Now, hopefully he’s got to that point in his career where he’s been through that for two or three years, he can get it simple in his own head and come out and do what he does well.”