Yesterday, Joe Root spoke candidly about the complexities and immense rewards associated with his return as captain of England’s Test cricket team. He described his role as both challenging and gratifying, marking a significant moment in his cricketing journey.
It’s intriguing to consider how time away from the pressures of leadership has acted as a balm for Root, who, four years ago, stepped down citing an unhealthy bond with the captaincy. At that time, the captaincy felt more like a burden than an honor. Now, with what seems like a restoration of spirit, perhaps the passage of time has been as soothing as water from a sacred spring, washing away past tensions.
So, what’s behind Root’s renewed enthusiasm? The change can largely be attributed to the environment. During the last stretch of his record-setting 64-test tenure from 2017 to 2022, the joy of cricket had vanished for Root and his side. Stuck in an endless loop of sterile Covid-19 hotel bubbles, the sport had lost its spark. However, the advent of ‘Bazball’ — a more vibrant and entertaining form of play — has reignited his passion.
Nine years ago, when Root assumed leadership from Alastair Cook, there was a strong consensus that he was the best candidate for the role — the main contender standing out prominently among any others. This belief endured throughout his initial tenure.
However, during that period, an innovative and often unorthodox alternative was emerging in Ben Stokes. Stokes brought with him a sense of freedom and fearlessness, teaching Root that even those in the highest positions of responsibility could err without being weighed down by their mistakes. This influence is why those familiar with Root and the England team anticipate a transformation in his second stint — a Root 2.0, filled with fresh perspectives and renewed energy.
Mistakes had been plentiful towards the end of his first stint; a well-meaning but mis-executed rotation policy designed to protect premier players from burnout left the wrong horses picked for designated courses, such as when Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad were omitted from the first Test at the Gabba in 2021 and England then batted first.
Joe Root is back as England captain after quitting the job four years ago
Root became weighed down by the pressure of the role at a time when Covid made it a joyless task, especially on the 2021-2022 Ashes tour with coach Chris Silverwood
Public criticism of those two senior bowlers’ lengths in Adelaide and their subsequence axing by Andrew Strauss for Root’s last-chance saloon in the Caribbean all contributed to the disharmony. Root’s tactical decisions also left him open to criticism, such as bowling Jofra Archer for 42 overs in a single innings in Mount Maunganui in New Zealand in 2019.
Such was his longevity that he is simultaneously England’s best and worst captain statistically: winning 27 and losing 27. New Zealand’s Stephen Fleming, the man he has been asked to form a new captain-coach alliance with, also lost 27 times while only South Africa’s Graeme Smith, with 29 from 109, has been defeated more.
It must be said that there were times, such as the victory over India in Chennai in February 2021, their sixth in a row away from home, when it appeared Root’s team were on to something, but either side of that, the elusive success over Australia all England captains crave failed to materialise.
A caveat to that is that he didn’t have Stokes at all for the 2017-18 tour Down Under while England’s now ex-captain wasn’t at his best after physical and mental impairments in the build-up to 2021-22.
And covering for Stokes’ absence now is going to be the primary issue Root has to manage, initially working with the interim coach Marcus Trescothick for the upcoming series against Pakistan from August 19, with Fleming, England’s second choice to replace Brendon McCullum after Andy Flower, granted a delayed start date to spend time with family back in New Zealand.
Root arguably showed his cards by playing an extra batsman and doing away with frontline spinner Shoaib Bashir when standing in for an unselected Stokes at The Oval last month.
Whether he can do that in August when pitches are at their driest, and likely to offer turn, remains to be seen. Selection for Headingley will also perhaps give an indication on the future of Bashir, whose cause was trumpeted so loudly by Stokes and McCullum from a stage in his career when he had 10 first-class wickets at an average in excess of 70.
No doubt wanting to get off to a good start with victory over Pakistan, Root might not be prepared to indulge this particular ECB development project at this stage.
At The Oval, he threw the ball to slow left-armer Jacob Bethell and filled in some spin overs himself.
Sam Curran, a player who has served Root well before and Stephen Fleming is very familiar with from their time together at Chennai Super Kings, could come into the England mix
The ECB went for Root to avoid over-burdening another Yorkshireman in Harry Brook (right) – England’s biggest match-winner
Root will work with new head coach Fleming when the Kiwi starts the role later in the year
Root smiled his way through those difficult circumstances, but he will be judged through a different prism now the selection calls will be his, made in conjunction with national selector Marcus North.
Sam Curran, a player who has served Root well in Tests before and Fleming is very familiar with from their time together at Chennai Super Kings, could come into the mix for the No 7 position along with George Hill – Root’s Yorkshire team-mate.
The ECB went for Root to avoid over-burdening another Yorkshireman in Harry Brook – England’s biggest match-winner – during a 12-month period which culminates with the 2027 Ashes. This despite Brook maintaining his personal form in leading England temporarily to the top of the Twenty20 rankings this month and resuscitating their 50-over form with series wins over Sri Lanka and India. Mark Butcher led the criticism from former England players yesterday, calling it a ‘retrograde step’.
However, with the Root-Stokes axis now a thing of the past, a triumvirate of Root, Brook and Bethell has developed inside the dressing room, and it would be no surprise if one of the other two takes over the Test armband once next summer’s Australia series is out the way.
No one quite knows where the team goes from here, but in a re-energised Root, the ECB are hoping they have left it in safe hands.