Joe Root says he returns as England Test captain a more experienced and energised leader after stepping down in 2022…reports London Daily News Desk
Joe Root says he is returning to the England Test captaincy with renewed energy, greater experience and a clearer understanding of the demands of leadership, as he prepares to begin a second spell in charge following Ben Stokes’ retirement.
Root, who resigned as England Test captain in 2022 after leading the side for five years, will take charge again when England begin their Test series against Pakistan on August 19. During his first stint, he captained England in 65 Tests, winning a national record 27 matches.
Speaking to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), Root said he was relishing the opportunity to lead the side again, this time with years of additional experience behind him.
“Very much the same, to be honest. I don’t think that will ever change. Whenever you get the opportunity to lead your country, it’s all of those things,” Root said.
He added that unlike his first appointment, he now has the benefit of having experienced both success and difficult periods as captain, giving him a stronger foundation to draw upon.
“I’ve got a wealth of experience in terms of knowing what it takes, knowing what it looks like, having seen success with it and seeing some hard times as well.
“I’ve got a lot to fall back on and look at and help me and the team moving forward into this next little while. I’m very much looking forward to it, very excited by the challenge that lies ahead.”
-Joe Root
“I’ve got a lot to fall back on and look at and help me and the team moving forward into this next little while. I’m very much looking forward to it, very excited by the challenge that lies ahead.”
Reflecting on the years since he first became captain in 2017, Root acknowledged that he had changed significantly both on and off the field.
“Hugely different. I mean, I think anyone that says in nearly an eight-year period that they’re the same person they were is probably lying,” he said.
“So, whether it be within the game, away from it, all of the experiences you have along the way throughout that period, you’re going to be shaped into a slightly different person.”
Rather than introducing sweeping changes, Root said he intends to build on the aggressive and positive culture established under Stokes, whose leadership transformed England’s approach to Test cricket.
“I think it’ll be trying to continue a lot of the good stuff that we’ve done over that period and not finding ourselves back to where we were before,” Root said.
He added that England’s aim remains to evolve further and consistently challenge the world’s leading Test nations.
Root also reflected on the challenges that defined the latter part of his previous captaincy, particularly the Covid-19 pandemic, when England spent long periods living in bio-secure bubbles while continuing to play international cricket.
He described the experience as mentally draining, with players separated from their families while adapting to constant squad changes across all three formats of the game.
“Everyone knows how hard it was from a personal aspect,” Root said.
“You see the rest of the world go back to normality around you and you’re still living in those bubbles. It takes its toll on you.”
He noted that England played more than 20 matches under strict Covid restrictions over a two-year period while also facing demanding tours against India and Australia, making it difficult to maintain consistency.
Although he admitted England could have performed better during that period, Root said the emotional and mental burden eventually convinced him it was the right time to step aside in 2022.
“Clearly we could have been better and we could have performed better, but it got to a point where that got a little bit too much for me and that it’s time to step away,” he said.
Now, however, Root believes both he and the game have moved on.
“As we sit here right now, the world’s very different. I’m in a very different place and I feel very energised and excited about the opportunity that lies ahead,” he said.
With England entering a new chapter, Root will hope his experience, combined with the foundations laid during the Stokes era, can help the team maintain its progress and compete consistently with the world’s leading Test sides.
