Brendon McCullum wants England players to be 'rockstars' on the field: Joe Root

England ended up chasing their highest-ever (378) target in Tests when they beat India by seven wickets in the Edgbaston match. Former England captain Joe Root, who is witnessing a purple patch with the bat, scored an unbeaten 142*, sharing in a 269-run stand with Yorkshire batter Jonny Bairstow.

Root has praised new head coach Brendon McCullum's approach to the game, which has seen the Three Lions chase down massive totals in their last 3 Tests. Previously, England had lost 17 Tests last year under Root's captaincy, but things have changed since the appointment of Ben Stokes as the captain. 

According to IndiaToday, Root said: "Ben (England coach Brendan McCullum) has wanted us to be entertainers, he's mentioned trying to be 'rock stars' on the field. And so it's more just about trying to have fun and really relish every opportunity you get to go and showcase what you're about and, you know, put on a show for everyone".

The second English batter to cross the 10,000-run mark in Tests felt like a rockstar after reaching his ton against India in the second innings.

"(laughs) I don't think I'll ever be able to feel or look like a rock star, but for 10 seconds I might have done today (laughter). That was what the little pinky was about. Ben watched the Elvis Presley film the other day, and he's been doing that all week, so it's a little tribute to him," he explained.

Interestingly, this is the former New Zealand captain's first assignment with a national side, having worked with club/franchise teams in the past.

Root, the ICC's number 1 Test batsman, has so far scored 927 runs in nine Tests this year, only to be left behind by Bairstow, who has 994 runs from eight games.

Bairstow, who scored 114* runs in his partnership with Root in the one-off Test, drew praise from his former skipper.

"There is absolute clarity in how he has been told to go out and play. What an incredible batter and Test player he can be! He's got the whole package," he added.

Root also reflected on the contrast between his natural instinct and the approach from Stokes. 

"There's still the Yorkshireman (known for their dourness) in me saying play straight. Then there's the captain telling you to be a rockstar",

 the 31-year-old concluded.