Joe Root reckons England can take their new style of Test cricket to Pakistan and win because they are not just ‘one trick ponies’.
Root has been swept along with the freewheeling approach of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, admitting he has never had more fun as a professional cricketer. And when Jonny Bairstow and Stokes were busy setting Trent Bridge alight with their exhilarating batting, Root had to put down the crossword because he couldn’t take his eyes off it.
England have scored their runs at 4.44 per over across their seven Tests making it their fastest scoring summer of all time - beating 2005’s thrillseekers. But in amongst the high octane, reverse-sweeping boundary collectors, there was another side to the team displayed at Old Trafford when Stokes and Ben Foakes scored calm, skilful and effective hundreds to show they had other gears, and that is what gives Root the confidence to suggest the winter could be just as successful.
