I’ll take England captaincy game-by-game – Root

Root Reclaims England Test Captaincy on a Game-by-Game Basis

I ll take England captaincy game - Joe Root, who has a career batting average of 50.73, will once again steer England in the Test series against New Zealand after stepping down as captain in 2022. The 35-year-old has taken on the role in a temporary capacity following an incident involving Ben Stokes at a London nightclub. Stokes, who was left out of the squad, will now return to the team as a player, while Root aims to focus on the immediate challenge ahead.

A Return to Leadership

Root, who previously led England in 64 Tests between 2017 and 2022, is embracing the captaincy with a fresh perspective. He described his current mindset as "very different" from when he first relinquished the role, highlighting his adaptation to playing solely as a batter under Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum. "I’ve really enjoyed the last couple of days working with Baz in a slightly different space," Root shared.

"That’s one thing, in a small way, in a good way—I was slightly envious of that opportunity to work with someone like Baz in this sort of capacity."

Uncertainty Over Key Debutant

England’s team for the second Test at The Oval includes several debutants, with Jordan Cox and Sonny Baker set to make their Test bows. However, the availability of wicketkeeper Jamie Smith remains uncertain, as his wife is due to give birth to their second child. If Smith is unavailable, Somerset’s James Rew will step in. Despite the challenges, Root emphasized the importance of maintaining focus on the present. "Let’s not look beyond this week," he said.

"That’s the most important thing—trying to deliver a really good performance this week."

Reflecting on Past Leadership

Root’s previous captaincy ended with a streak of 17 Tests without a win, leading him to admit the chances of reassuming the role were once rated at "0.1%." He also mentioned that the "ship had sailed" for becoming white-ball captain last year. Yet, the recent decision to return as Test skipper was driven by a desire to support the team’s growth. "The only thinking that came to my mind is what is the best thing for this team," he explained.

"Is it going to have a big effect on me and my personal life? Which outweighed the other."

Legacy and Fresh Start

Root cited the demanding nature of the role as a key factor in his earlier departure, noting the "very unhealthy relationship" he had with the captaincy. He added that the pandemic-era conditions, which isolated England from normalcy, contributed to the team’s struggles. "We played around 20 Test matches in those Covid environments," he said.

"While the rest of the world went back to normality around you. You are living a very different way to the rest of society."

Root now views the captaincy as a chance for a new beginning, expressing enthusiasm for the coaching group and the experience of leading again. "I’ve never had more fun and got more out of a group of coaches than this one," he concluded.