TOP STORIES
“Ben did so much for me as my vice-captain”: Joe Root ahead of England’s 1st Test vs India
As England gear up for the five-match Test series against India, beginning June 20, veteran batter and former England captain Joe Root has expressed that it is time to repay the support to Ben Stokes, who did so much for him.
"Ben did so much for me as my vice-captain, now it's my turn to give a bit back to him. It was difficult and weird coming back into the team after being leader. I didn't want to get in Ben's way or step on his toes, but I wanted him to know I was there to support him," Root was quoted as saying by Sky Sports.
"I knew a big part of that was scoring runs. I wanted to make sure I could affect games with the bat, and clearly, if I was following his lead as a former captain, it sends a strong message to anyone coming into the team or not as established as myself," he added.
Joe Root, who was England’s Test skipper between 2017 to 2022, is the highly decorated player, with 13,006 runs in the longest format from 153 matches. His recent performances have been extraordinarily spectacular, having scored 3,117 runs in last three years after playing 36 matches. Meanwhile, speaking on the "Bazball" approach, Root said there is much more to it than what is visible.
"It has become the most fun time of my career. Playing the way we play, the environment that has been created. The job Ben and [head coach] Brendon [McCullum] have done has been fabulous and so much fun has come with it.
"It might not always get reported how it actually is - I don't think Bazball is the right way to describe it. It has clearly been a big change and is different to how a lot of teams play but there is a lot more method to it than is probably perceived."
Tags
More News
Spotlight on Gill as India face England in 1st Test
England and India are preparing to clash in the first Test match of the five-match series, beginning on June 20 in Leeds. The series carries immense significance for India as it marks a fresh chapter in their red-ball cricket journey, with young star Shubman Gill set to lead the team for the first time.
This high-voltage series ...
Women’s T20I World Cup 2026: All you need to know
The schedule for the 2026 ICC Women's T20 World Cup has been announced, with hosts England taking on Sri Lanka on June 12. The tournament is scheduled from June 12 to July 5. This edition will feature 12 teams competing across seven iconic venues, culminating in a grand final at Lord's Cricket Ground.
The 2026 Women's T20 World Cup will be contested over 2...
England reveal playing XI for 1st Test against India
England have announced their playing XI for the first Test match of the five-match Test series against India, beginning on June 20 in Leeds. Brydon Carse and Chris Woakes have been named in the playing XI and will lead the side’s bowling attack. The duo missed last month's one-off test against Zimbabwe due to injur...
“India will miss his fighting spirit”: Ben Stokes lauds Virat Kohli
As the highly anticipated five-match Test series between India and England approaches, England's Test captain Ben Stokes has lauded Indian batting maestro Virat Kohli, highlighting the void his absence will create in the Indian lineup. The series is set to commence on June 20, 2025, with India led by the promising young star Shubman...
Former England opener expresses surprises over Iyer’s omission
Former England opening batter Nick Knight has voiced his surprise over India’s decision to omit Shreyas Iyer from their squad for the upcoming five-match Test series against England. Nick believed that Iyer should have been given a place in the squad. While Iyer has been in tremendously impressive form across all formats, he hasn't been able to make t...
Android App
iOS App
YouTube
Facebook
Instagram