How Root brought welcome calm on return as England captain
Joe Root has returned to the England Test cricket captaincy, leading the team to a strong start against Pakistan. The article highlights his tactical adjustments and collaborative relationship with teammate Harry Brook.
Why it matters
As a major figure in international cricket, changes in England's leadership impact the global sporting landscape and team performance.
Figure caption, Highlights: England in control of opening Test against Pakistan after day one
When Joe Root left the field for the first time in his second stint as England's Test captain, he did so with Harry Brook's arm over his shoulder.
Two Yorkshiremen. Two England batters. The only two candidates when England needed to replace Ben Stokes as skipper.
Brook could have appeared scorned after being overlooked for his friend and team-mate. Root could have been keen to show he is the one with the power once again.
Instead, the pair dovetailed throughout as England took the first steps in recovering from previous turmoils to dismiss Pakistan for 171 on day one of their new era at Headingley. It was an encouraging start.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in