‘Can’t hide when facing India in five Tests’: Joe Root on England’s upcoming home series | Cricket News
Former England captain Joe Root has batted for consency to counter India in the upcoming five-Test series, starting in June, affirming that “there’s no hiding place” when it comes to facing such an indomitable opponent.
After missing out on a World Test Championship final ticket in the 2023-25 cycle with their Border-Gavaskar Trophy defeat earlier this year, India will commence the 2025-27 edition of the WTC in England, the first Test slated to begin in Headingley on June 20.
The 34-year-old Root, who is on the cusp of scaling up to the second spot among Test cricket’s highest run-getters this year, is gearing up for the gruelling challenge after a fine Champions Trophy series as a batter.
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“We are good in our own conditions but with India coming over for a five-match series there’s no hiding place. It’s a long old slog, you’ve got to be consent. You’ve got to put in those match-winning performances time and time again,” Root told Sky Sports.
Root has led England to the most victories during his five-year tenure as Test captain, winning 27 of the 64 matches. However, a difficult period in 2021, where the team won just one of 17 matches and suffered an Ashes debacle Down Under, led to his decision to step down from the role.
Root, nevertheless, continues to be the batting mainstay of the side, which was yet again fortified his performance in the recently-held Champions Trophy, where he was the fourth-highest run-getter with 225 runs in three innings. Root could, however, not prevent England’s debacle.
“The Champions Trophy was disappointing. We didn’t play anywhere near what we’re capable of but there’s so much talent and so much more to come from that team,” Root said. “I think it’s a really good opportunity to reset and to move forward again as a group and get back to the heights that we know we’re capable of and where we were in and around that 2015 to 2019 phase (winning the World Cup in 2019),” he added.Story continues below this ad
Root also ruled out leading England in white-ball cricket again following Jos Buttler’s resignation. “I think that ship has sailed. I’ve done my time as a captain in England but I’m sure whoever gets the opportunity to do it will be extremely proud and do a brilliant job,” Root said.
Instead he would like to focus on the India series and the Ashes later this year.
“These are the years you play for. Two of the biggest teams, two of the biggest series you can play in as an England player. It’s something the team is relishing,” Root said.
– With PTI inputs
