In the wash-up from England’s commanding victory in the first Test against New Zealand came an admission from Joe Root that he is still finding his role under the captaincy of Ben Stokes – and it may yet take some time.
Root’s transition to life back in the ranks appeared seamless last summer when he peeled off match-defining centuries at Lord’s, Trent Bridge and Edgbaston, marrying his typical frictionless method with a dash of innovation. At the time, Root said he wanted to “pay a bit back” to Stokes for his unyielding support as vice-captain.
But reflecting on his 57 on the third day at Bay Oval – his second half-century in 11 innings since the last of those hundreds – the 32-year-old opened up about a minor identity crisis in England’s resurgence.
Root said: “I’ve just got to find out what sits best for me and it’s going to take some time. If I’m being brutally honest, there was the initial relief of coming out of the captaincy and now I’m just trying to find out what my role is within this team.
“It sounds silly having the experience I have, but you want to be involved and want to be a part of it, you want to heavily contribute and I felt like I’ve not been able to do that the last few Test matches. It’s nice in a small way to have a little bit in that second innings.”
As the fulcrum of the World Cup-winning 50-over side in 2019, and so often quick out the traps en route to more than 10,000 Test runs, Root’s uncertainty is something of a curio. And it’s not as if Stokes is channelling JK Simmons in Whiplash, hurling chairs and shouting “not my tempo” at such a thoroughbred.
Nevertheless, there has been a clear push for quick scoring under Stokes, with Brendon McCullum, the head coach, following every stumble by issuing reminders that the method at large is working. Root’s demise in the first innings was a case in point, when his reverse scoop off Neil Wagner – an attempt to counter wide, defensive lines from the New Zealand attack and spread the field – was duffed to first slip.
Given the shot’s output, Root had grounds to point to its legitimacy and perhaps more frustrating was the second-innings reverse paddle to slip off the spinner just before an interval. Still, the 62-ball 57 was a more familiar Root, with wing-heeled strike rotation in between his six boundaries.
“I had the bit between my teeth,” Root said. “And it’s given me a little sharpener, a kick up the backside, that this is how I need to play my cricket … how I can be consistently useful in this group. I’m not too far away from what’s given me success.”
It says a fair bit about Root that he has rolled with the implicit criticism of his captaincy during the deluge of praise for Stokes. “It’s been incredible, I’m absolutely buzzing for him,” he said. “It’s not just turned around our Test team, but people are now seriously considering: ‘Is this the direction Test cricket should be going in?’”
After a revolving door of batters under his watch, there was also genuine delight at seeing Harry Brook come into the new setup and thrive. The 23-year-old is some talent, it must be said, his 623 runs at 77 from his first five Tests a combination of technique, power and, it emerges, self-criticism. “You should [hear] the conversations out in the middle,” Root said. “He sprays himself. Not in a way that gets him down, more getting it out of his system before facing the next ball.
“It’s that internal confidence you need at this level, it’s very evident at such an early point in his career and it’s a major factor why he’ll be successful for a long period of time. He hits the ball so crisply, so firmly. He’s special, really special.
“Although he keeps bringing up that when he was 14, he got me out in the nets at Headingley and he just continually talks about it. Filthy seamers off the wrong foot. It’s so annoying. But I’ve seen him go from a little boy to a man and now almost bullying Test attacks. It’s extraordinary.”
After a day at leisure in Mount Maunganui, the teams are due to fly to Wellington on Tuesday for Friday’s second Test. New Zealand welcome back the seamer Matt Henry after paternity leave, while England will wait to see how Jimmy Anderson, Stuart Broad and Ollie Robinson pull up in training before deciding on possible rotation.
Robinson experienced some discomfort in his left shin while batting on the third day and after a wicket during Broad’s four-star burst under lights did not bowl on day four. With Anderson and Broad also sore after their exertions, Matthew Potts and Olly Stone come into contention.
