Joe Root, the world’s top-ranked batter, has shared his thoughts on his captaincy tenure with England, expressing his desire to play fearless and aggressive cricket, similar to the team’s current approach under Ben Stokes. Root, who led England from 2017 until stepping down after the Ashes defeat in 2022, believes that nothing should change from the current style of play, known as Bazball, despite their loss to Australia in the series opener.
During his captaincy, Root led England in 64 matches, with 27 wins and 26 defeats. However, victories were elusive toward the end of his tenure, and the team struggled to overcome challenges. Despite his individual brilliance with the bat, England couldn’t crack the Test code under Root’s leadership.
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In contrast, under the captaincy of Ben Stokes and the guidance of head coach Brendon McCullum, England has showcased an entertaining brand of cricket. The team has won 11 out of their last 14 Tests, exhibiting an exciting and effective style of play.
“If I could go back in time, I’d start my captaincy the way Ben has and try to get us to play in a similar manner to how he does it,” Joe Root expressed. “It’s far more exciting, it’s far more interesting, and I think we’re getting far more out of our team and our individuals,” he added.
Root believes that England’s approach under Stokes has yielded better results and a more enjoyable brand of cricket. He emphasized the importance of building on the positive aspects rather than dwelling on a single defeat, as they prepare to face Australia in the second Test at Lord’s on June 28.
Despite the disappointment of the loss in Birmingham, England’s intention is to continue playing Bazball and come back stronger against Australia. Their first-innings declaration at 393 for 8, scoring at a rate of 5.03 runs per over, showcased their aggressive mindset. Although they lost the match, England had several opportunities to win, with a spirited partnership between Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon ultimately taking Australia to victory on the final day.
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“We sent a strong message to everyone about how we want to go about things. We just have to go and do it again at Lord’s and again for three more after that. Everyone should strap in and expect exactly the same from us because that’s what we’re about now,” Joe Root asserted.
Joe Root’s reflections highlight the team’s commitment to playing an exciting brand of cricket and their determination to bounce back stronger in the upcoming matches.
