Root’s tenure as England captain, spanning from 2017 to 2022, was a period of both immense responsibility and growing personal pressure. Despite a bright start, the latter stages of his captaincy witnessed a noticeable dip in his prolific form. Although he managed to score 14 centuries across 64 Tests at an average of 46.44, accumulating 5,295 runs
Joe Root (Pic: AFP)
England’s batting maestro Joe Root has opened up about the profound influence head coach Brendon McCullum has had on his approach to the game, crediting the former New Zealand skipper for breathing new life into his batting career.
Root’s tenure as England captain, spanning from 2017 to 2022, was a period of both immense responsibility and growing personal pressure. Despite a bright start, the latter stages of his captaincy witnessed a noticeable dip in his prolific form. Although he managed to score 14 centuries across 64 Tests at an average of 46.44, accumulating 5,295 runs, his conversion rate began to falter, and the weight of leadership increasingly took its toll.
England’s performances mirrored Root’s personal struggles. The final stretch of his captaincy was particularly dismal, with the team managing just a single win in 17 Tests. This period also coincided with the challenging bio-secure bubbles imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, which added further strain on players’ mental and physical wellbeing.
When Root eventually stepped down from the role, it marked the end of a tumultuous chapter for English cricket. In came Brendon McCullum, bringing with him a radically different philosophy. Ben Stokes took over the Test captaincy, and McCullum's leadership injected a fresh energy into a team in desperate need of revival.
For Root, the transformation under McCullum has been nothing short of remarkable. Since the coaching change, he has rediscovered the freedom and clarity that once defined his game. In 41 Tests under McCullum’s guidance, Root has plundered 3,654 runs at a resounding average of 58.00, matching the 14 centuries he scored during his much longer stint as captain.
"Having worked with Baz has changed the way that I look at the game. I've got less technical, I've become more about trying to manage the game better and find ways of problem-solving. It's been very refreshing to have someone with a very different way of looking at things come and add a huge amount to my game. He's been brilliant," Root said as quoted from ESPNcricinfo.
Despite boasting 158 Test appearances, 13,543 runs and 39 centuries, Root still craves to evolve his game. As he stands second on the list, close to breaking legendary Sachin Tendulkar's elusive record for the highest run-getter in the format, Root isn't driven by the urge to break that milestone.
"As a player, more of the motivation is can you keep evolving. Can you keep finding ways of staying ahead of your opposition? Can you make sure that you don't stand still and become stale? Can I keep being creative? Can I keep finding ways of improving and making sure that the stuff that I'm doing well stays at that level as a bare minimum?" he added.
Root's next Test assignment will be against England's arch-rival Australia in the cricket's oldest rivalry, the Ashes, which is scheduled to begin on November 21.
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