How Root brought welcome calm on return as England captain

Joe Root marked his first appearance in the second stint as England’s Test captain with Harry Brook’s arm resting on his shoulder. The two Yorkshiremen, the only batters England considered to replace Ben Stokes as skipper, walked out together at Headingley. Brook, who might have felt slighted after being overlooked for the role, and Root, eager to reassert his authority, instead combined calmly as England began its recovery from recent turmoil, dismissing Pakistan for 171 on the opening day of a new era at the ground. It was an encouraging start. Root had already celebrated his return by winning the toss and watching Ollie Robinson claim a wicket with the very first ball of the match; only five deliveries had been bowled when Brook’s influence became evident. When Pakistan’s number three, Shan Masood, played and missed, Brook—who has shown himself a shrewd tactician in white‑ball captaincy—suggested a reinforced gully region. Root, whose temperament had been criticised during his first spell in charge, agreed, though a ruthless streak surfaced shortly afterwards when Jofra Archer was removed from the attack after two wayward overs with the new ball. Stationed at mid‑off rather than the slips, with his two young children looking on from the boundary, Root expertly regulated the tempo of the game. He has moved away from the slips—where he has taken more than two‑thirds of his joint‑record 218 Test catches—to a position that lets him stay close to his bowlers’ ears. This adjustment also ensures the ball is always returned to the bowler via the captain Read the full story at BBC News →