England completely overpowered New Zealand in the first Test in Mount Maunganui, bringing their total of wins up to ten out of eleven matches since Ben Stokes took over as the Test captain. The English batters have adopted a daring and impulsive approach to batting, disregarding the standard methods of cricket. While Joe Root, a former England skipper and batting expert, is still becoming accustomed to his team’s daring tactics.
Joe Root, who greatly impacted his team’s first four games under Ben Stokes by hitting three centuries, has had difficulty performing to his usual high standards. The highly successful English batsman believes he cannot provide for his team’s victory as he still determines his place in the squad.
Joe Root stated that he felt a sense of relief after stepping down from the captaincy and needed time to discover his place in the team. Even with his experience, he still desires to be thoroughly involved and make a meaningful contribution, which he has been unable to do in recent Test matches.
The player from Yorkshire scored a fast fifty runs in the second innings of the first Test match against New Zealand. The talented batsman acknowledged that his failure to perform in the earlier matches had motivated him to take a more aggressive approach in Test cricket. He said,
“I’ve not performed for a little while but it’s given me a little sharpener.”
He further stated that the game has made him more passionate and that he needed to remind himself how to play cricket to succeed. He also mentioned that although he won’t stop playing the game, he will be more aware of when to use it.
