Joe Root has revealed that the appointment of Stephen Fleming as England's Test head coach played a pivotal role in his decision to return to the captaincy. Root, who previously held the role for five years between 2017 and 2022, stated that he is highly enthusiastic about working with the new coach to build a successful future for the team.
Speaking to the ECB, Root admitted that Fleming's vision for the game and his perspective on the team's current standing were key drivers for his return. He expressed excitement about collaborating with someone who possesses such a wealth of experience both as a player and a coach, noting that he looks forward to achieving significant milestones together.
During his initial tenure, Root worked under coaches Trevor Bayliss and Chris Silverwood, with Paul Collingwood serving as interim coach for his final series against the West Indies in early 2022. He also briefly worked with Brendon McCullum during a Test at The Oval last month while Ben Stokes was unavailable. Reflecting on the last four years, Root described them as the most enjoyable period of his professional career, citing the leadership of Stokes and McCullum as a major influence on his own approach.
Root, who has captained England in more Test matches than any other player with a record of 27 wins, 27 defeats, and 11 draws, believes he is a different person compared to when he resigned in 2022. He intends to carry forward the mindset shift that emphasizes removing fear from the game and allowing players to express their talent in crucial moments. He emphasized the importance of balancing aggressive play with smarter decision-making to become a more formidable side.
England is set to select its squad for the upcoming three-match Test series against Pakistan next week. The team faces a tight schedule, with only two full training days before the opening Test at Headingley on August 19. Marcus Trescothick will serve as interim head coach for the series, as Fleming is currently in New Zealand due to family commitments. Root acknowledged the challenge of the short turnaround following the conclusion of the Hundred on August 16, stressing the need for a strong start to the series.
"I'm very much looking forward to working with him. He's obviously got a wealth of experience and done some amazing things within the game as a player and as a coach, and I'm very much looking forward to the next little while, and us trying to build something pretty special together."
"The last four years have been the most fun I've had in professional cricket, and a big part of that was down to the way that they got me to see the game, how I fit into that side, and the experiences that we managed to create on and off the field," Root said. "Clearly, the last little while is probably what's fresh in everyone's mind, but you're looking at a four-year period where we did a lot of amazing things. I've taken a lot from that, and I feel it will be a big part of how I want to approach things moving forward as a leader of this team.
