GEORGE DOBELL IN WELLINGTON: In the 30 Tests up to the appointment of McCullum and Stokes, though, he averaged 54.48 with nine centuries (three of them doubles) and eight half-centuries. But in seven Tests since August, he has averaged 22
Joe Root feels the revolution in England's Test cricket is similar to the revolution they experienced in their limited-overs cricket after the 2015 World Cup and believes "the sky's the limit" for the team.
However, former captain Root admits he is still "trying to find out what [my] role is" within the side after a series of relatively modest performances.
Victory in Mount Maunganui gave England their 10th win in 11 Tests under the Ben Stokes-Brendon McCullum regime, and continued their remarkable resurgence in the format. Before the pair took over, England had won just once in 17 matches.
For Root, at least, the similarities with England's limited-overs improvement are obvious. After a humbling 2015 World Cup, England adopted a much bolder style of play in white-ball cricket which quickly led to a slew of records and, in time, the title of world champions.
"It's the same feeling we had about six or seven years ago with that white-ball team," Root said, reflecting on victory in the first Test. "It feels like the sky's the limit and we don't know really what we're capable of doing.
Joe Root goes on the attack during the first Test against New Zealand [Getty Images]
Root only averages 22 over the past seven Test matches [Getty Images]
"That's the exciting thing. It still feels like there's more in there. The batting performances, as extraordinary as they were, still no one went on and made that big hundred that we all pride ourselves on doing.
"If we can add that to what we've done this week, we're onto something really special."
Root made a typically fluent 57 in the second innings in Mount Maunganui. But the manner of his first-innings dismissal, caught at slip as he attempted to reverse scoop the seam of Neil Wagner, underlined the impression that he was, perhaps, trying to push a little too hard to fit in with the new, aggressive game plans.
But Root's batting was never an issue in the previous England regime. Indeed, at times, it was one of the few good things about it. He has nearly always managed to score heavily and, with a wide range of strokes, has generally made his runs pretty quickly, too. His career strike rate is 55.82.
"I've not performed for a little while, so I had the bit between my teeth in the second innings and it's given me a little sharpener, a kick up the backside"
In the 30 Tests up to the appointment of McCullum and Stokes, though, he averaged 54.48 with nine centuries (three of them doubles) and eight half-centuries. But in seven Tests since August, he has averaged 22 with no centuries and two half-centuries. His strike-rate, however, has risen to 81.20 in that period.
"I've just got to find out what sits best for me," Root admitted. "And it's going to take some time.
"I think 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 in the last few Tests.
Root says he is still finding his role in England's Bazball era [Getty Images]
Ben Stokes has revolutionised how England approach red-ball cricket [Getty Images]
"It's nice, in a small way, to have contributed a little bit in that second innings. I felt like I found a really good tempo in how I wanted to bat. I didn't feel like I was in fifth gear, I felt like I was playing quite reserved in some respects but still scoring very quickly.
"I've always bounced off the guys at the other end and tried to play what's right in front of me. In the recent past I've maybe got a bit caught up in the rhythms of the game.
"But I'm not too far away from what's given me success. I didn't feel I tried to force it in the second innings and when I'm playing well that's one of my strengths: I can score freely and I can rotate the strike. As soon as there are sweepers out, I can drop it and get off strike and keep the scoreboard moving.
"I've not performed for a little while, so I had the bit between my teeth in the second innings and it's given me a little sharpener, a kick up the backside, that this is how I need to play my cricket and how I can be consistently useful in this group."
In terms of that first-innings dismissal, Root insisted the shot would remain part of his repertoire but suggested he "can be smarter" about when to play it.
"It was a calculated shot to get them to bowl both sides of the wicket, change their plans and force the game," Root explained. "You take calculated risks. I've got where I've got to by trusting my gut.
Root remains an integral part of the England side [Getty Images]
"It just didn't quite work out. I sort of middled the edge of it.
"It's not going to stop me playing it. But maybe I can be smarter about playing it. I had played it once so maybe the bowler looked at my movements, because he bowled it wider. You have to give the bowler credit in some respects.
"But yes, it's now part of my Test game and I'll continue to utilise it when it's the right time."
England will travel to Wellington on Tuesday. The second and final Test in the series begins on Friday. The first three days of the match are sold out.
Posted by Marc Evans on 22/02/2023 at 18:48
Maybe he should chat to Foakes, who seems to have discovered the answer without changing his game too much.
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