• Home
  • Who Said What
  • He Went Out Of His Way Joe Root Credits Ex England Captain For His Transformation Into Bazball

'He Went Out Of His Way...,' Joe Root Credits Ex-England Captain For His Transformation Into Bazball

image-ljfayv8fJoe Root scored a century in Edgbaston Test | Source: AP Photo 

England's cricketing landscape witnessed a transformation when Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum took charge as captain and coach, respectively. Their aggressive playing philosophy, named ‘Bazball’ has paid rich dividends, paving the way for a string of series of wins for the team so far. In the early stages of the Bazball, there were reservations regarding former England captain Joe Root's suitability to adopt this style. However, one should not doubt the great players' gameplay as they always find ways to adjust to different formats and different situations. 

Root, just like the greats of cricket, has seamlessly embraced the aggressive style of play, leaving no room for doubt. He now plays more aggressive shots, such as reverse scoops. In the first Test at Edgbaston, he was seen smacking the likes of Pat Cummins and Scott Boland for sixes while executing the same 'talk of the town' reverse scoops.

The English batting maestro has also been able to convert his starts into three-figure scores, something he wasn't able to do quite some time ago. In the first Ashes Test, he scored a breathtaking 152-ball 118 in the first innings, notching his 30th Test century. In the second innings, he scored 46 off just 55 balls.  

Meanwhile, Root stated that he attributes his success in converting starts into significant totals to the valuable advice he received from former England captain Nasser Hussain. 


Nasser went out of his way: Joe Root

"Nasser Hussain gave me some information about modes of dismissal in different periods of my innings and how to manage my game. It's nice to know there are people out there willing to help, even though it can seem like they are trying to rip your game apart on occasions. He went out of his way to make an impact in my career and I was grateful, because it was a big help."

The 32-year-old further admitted that during his five-year stint as England's red ball captain, he found it challenging to derive pleasure from his batting. However, he stated that shutting out the outside noise and focusing on the game alone helped him restore his form back.

"There were periods when I was captain, batting wasn't necessarily fun; it was about going out there to have some peace and quiet, having some time to myself. It was a time to shut off from the rest of the world, to just have me and the cricket ball. It worked." 

Root is expected to once again be a linchpin for England in the second Test, scheduled to be played at Lord’s from June 28. Currently, Australia leads the series 1-0 after winning the series opener by two-wickets in a thrilling encounter at Edgbaston.