Joe Root has welcomed new responsibility given by Head Coach Trevor Bayliss to bat at the top order, saying it is the right time for him to take on more responsibility after a year spent juggling to the demands of being both Test captain and leading batsman, and he is enough capable to do the dual job nicely.
The right-hander, who usually bats at No.4 will now bat at No. 3 and he believes that he has gained enough experience by leading the Test side since last year that needs to move up the batting order.
Bayliss expelled James Vince and given the crucial number three position to the Captain Root to overcome his struggle for consistency for the two-match Test series against Pakistan starting on Thursday (24 May) at the Lord’s.
As per reports in Reuters, Root said at the launch of England's 2018 kit, “I think it's an opportunity for me to take on a bit more responsibility at the top of the order. I've had a year in the captaincy now and I feel I've gained enough experience to feel comfortable doing that.”
The 27-year-old further said, “For me, it was getting used to the captaincy and making sure I could separate the two; that my full focus was on my batting when it came around.”
Way back in 2016, Root's highest test score of 254 came at No.3 against Pakistan, and he is looking forward to doing the same with the new opportunity. He further added, “I did it (number three) for one game in New Zealand and it didn't work out there but this is a great opportunity to do it at home and it's a great opportunity moving forward. Ultimately nothing will change about the way I go about my batting. I will look to have that hunger and desire to make really big runs.”
According to the revamped batting order, the wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow will bat at number five, while Jos Buttler, who has been in scintillating form in the ongoing IPL 2018 for Rajasthan Royals, will play at number seven as a specialist batsman.
Root signed off by saying of Buttler, “He has done some very special things in one-day and T20 cricket and won games when he has been under pressure. Now there is an opportunity for him to do that in test cricket. I can see him putting a lot of bums on seats. That is very exciting for me. He can change a game in half an hour with the bat.”
