Joe Root, who averages around 54 since stepping down as captain, said it felt strange at first to return as just a player.
England’s former captain opened up about life as a batter after being replaced by Ben Stokes. Root shared that Stokes had supported him as vice-captain during his leadership stint, and now he wants to return the favour. He also mentioned that he prefers not to interfere with Stokes' decisions.
“Ben (Stokes) did so much for me as my vice-captain, now it’s my turn to give a bit back to him,” he told Sky Sports. “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,” he added.
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Joe Root on Scoring Runs, Leadership Shift, and Team Culture
Statistically, Root has enjoyed a remarkable run post-captaincy. Of his 13,006 Test runs, 3,117 have come in the last three years across 36 Tests at an average of 54. Speaking on this form, Root said:
“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 also spoke about the positive environment under Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes, calling it the most enjoyable phase of his career:
“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,” said Root.
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“Bazball Isn’t the Right Word”: Root Clarifies England’s Approach
On the “Bazball” label, Root felt the term has been misunderstood by the public and media.
“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,” he concluded.
This marks Root’s first home Test series against India since stepping down as captain. In 2021, he scored 540 runs at an average of 94 in four Tests. This time, Root will be better prepared and eager to deliver again when the series begins on June 20 at Headingley. Stay tuned.
Stay tuned for more updates on the India tour of England 2025
