London: Joe Root has warned England’s rivals they are not a “one-trick pony” after securing a sixth Test victory in seven matches with their new ultra-aggressive brand of cricket.
England’s fortunes in the red-ball game have turned under the new leadership of their head coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes,
The home team registered a 2-1 series win against South Africa at The Oval on Monday with a 3-0 success against New Zealand and a singles postponed match against India.
This is in sharp contrast to his disappointing record in the later stages of Root’s captaincy, which ended in April with one win in 17 matches.
Success under Stokes and McCullum has been credited with unwavering positivity and has resulted in some hasty dismissals, but Root feels England’s performance was more nuanced as the season progressed.
“We are not just one trick ponies,” he said. “There are always phases in Test cricket that you have to manage well and smartly.
“We haven’t got it right every time this summer, but we’ve got it right more times and that’s why we’re sitting here with six (wins) out of seven (Tests).
“We’re certainly not the finished article, but it’s really a breath of fresh air to see the progress we’ve made in such a short period of time.”
England chased down totals of more than 275 in the fourth innings of all three Tests against New Zealand and then set a new record against India, easily chasing their 378-run target.
Former captain Root, who averaged 68 in seven matches at an impressive strike rate, believes the team’s progress under Stokes is akin to England’s transformation of white-ball cricket under captain Eoin Morgan. .
It culminated in their 50-over World Cup victory in 2019.
Root said, ‘I have never had more fun playing professional cricket. “Honestly, it’s hard to put into words. You come every day and you’re so excited about what’s about to happen. It’s unknown.
“It’s quite the weird feeling that 120-odd games are played when you come in every day. It’s a really cool place.
“Keeps you very hungry and motivated. You can bounce off the energy of everyone else who is in the same mindset.”
England’s fortunes in the red-ball game have turned under the new leadership of their head coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes,
The home team registered a 2-1 series win against South Africa at The Oval on Monday with a 3-0 success against New Zealand and a singles postponed match against India.
This is in sharp contrast to his disappointing record in the later stages of Root’s captaincy, which ended in April with one win in 17 matches.
Success under Stokes and McCullum has been credited with unwavering positivity and has resulted in some hasty dismissals, but Root feels England’s performance was more nuanced as the season progressed.
“We are not just one trick ponies,” he said. “There are always phases in Test cricket that you have to manage well and smartly.
“We haven’t got it right every time this summer, but we’ve got it right more times and that’s why we’re sitting here with six (wins) out of seven (Tests).
“We’re certainly not the finished article, but it’s really a breath of fresh air to see the progress we’ve made in such a short period of time.”
England chased down totals of more than 275 in the fourth innings of all three Tests against New Zealand and then set a new record against India, easily chasing their 378-run target.
Former captain Root, who averaged 68 in seven matches at an impressive strike rate, believes the team’s progress under Stokes is akin to England’s transformation of white-ball cricket under captain Eoin Morgan. .
It culminated in their 50-over World Cup victory in 2019.
Root said, ‘I have never had more fun playing professional cricket. “Honestly, it’s hard to put into words. You come every day and you’re so excited about what’s about to happen. It’s unknown.
“It’s quite the weird feeling that 120-odd games are played when you come in every day. It’s a really cool place.
“Keeps you very hungry and motivated. You can bounce off the energy of everyone else who is in the same mindset.”