Root made it clear he was committed for the long haul after surviving the post-Ashes shake-up and has tried to take the team in a new direction since arriving in the Caribbean.
While it is clear that Root continues to enjoy the support of the team, the England and Wales Cricket Board is currently recruiting a new managing director for men’s cricket and specialist red and white ball coaches are expected to follow.
The continuation of the Root era hinges on those appointments, but the man himself has more pressing concerns.
After back-to-back draws in Antigua and Barbados, there is everything to play for in Grenada over the next five days, including a first Winter Test win and a first series win in 14 months.
“I think I’m the right man to take the team forward, if the head coach comes in and thinks differently, that’s fine, it’s his call,” he said.
“As long as I’m in this position, I’ll do my best to make this team the best it can be. I am a huge fan of England. I just want to see us well. I will continue to do my best for us to be the best that we can be and if that means that eventually I will no longer be in this position, I will continue to do everything I can to help this team and try to carry us. be the best team in the world.
“That will never change. That passion to make England as good as we can be will always be there, regardless of the ability he has within this team. I really hope I get that chance, but it’s completely out of my control. What’s in my control is helping this team put on a really strong performance to win this series.
“After a very difficult winter, it would be a great way to round things up and a great way to start this year.”
While there have been notable positives in the England camp over the last few weeks, with Ben Stokes getting back into form, Dan Lawrence and Zak Crawley growing in stature and Jack Leach settling into his job as No.1, a late stumble in St George’s would undermine much of that work.
A third straight draw would likely see the shelved trip as a forgettable detour, while defeat would force further questioning of the team’s direction. For a side with only one Test success in its last 16 attempts, there is really only one successful result.
“As time goes on, the one thing you never want is for a team to forget how to win,” Root said.
“If we continue to play as we are and stay in the positions that we have in the previous two Tests, we will find ourselves winning games again.
“The most pleasing thing is every match that we haven’t had that nightmare session that cost us the Test. We have analyzed each individual session and each hour and we look to win each and every one of them.”
With the course expected to offer more assistance to bowlers than the two lifeless surfaces in Antigua and Barbados, the prospects of playing Matt Parkinson as a second bowler appear to be receding.
A change is anticipated, with Craig Overton favored to replace Yorkshire’s Matthew Fisher after recovering from illness. Former Yorkshire bowler Ollie Robinson is set to miss again after another physical setback.
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Source: www.yorkshirepost.co.uk
This notice was published: 2022-03-23 22:30:25
