Joe Root ready to have a ball in Sri Lanka

Joe Root’s runs and captaincy are likely to be crucial to England’s Test prospects in Sri Lanka, but he stands ready to do his part with the ball too.
Joe Root has a history of success in Sri Lanka
When Root led the side to a 3-0 sweep on the island in 2018, the tourists’ success owed plenty to a three-pronged spin attack of Adil Rashid, Moeen Ali and Jack Leach who harvested 48 wickets between them.
Of that trio only left-armer Leach will take the field in Galle on Thursday, with Rashid on what increasingly looks to be a permanent hiatus from red-ball cricket and Moeen remaining in quarantine beyond the initial 10-day guidance following his bout of Covid-19.
That means England are liable to line up with three seam options, with Root himself taking the role of extra spinner. He is no rank novice, boasting 29 Test scalps and best figures of four for 87 in Port Elizabeth, but could find himself playing a bigger role than ever before over the next couple of weeks.
And while he cannot expect to hit the heights of Moeen at his best, he has been putting himself through the necessary paces in the nets.
“I’ve readied myself for it. I’ve prepared for it in practice and it does seem to be coming out okay at the moment,” he said.

“With any attack, in any conditions, it’s about performing in partnerships and working with guys at the other end. I’ll just try to execute the role that is needed. If it is the case that I need to bowl longer spells than previously and take a bigger workload in this series then I’m looking forward to that challenge.”
Big challenge awaits England
Another, even bigger, challenge for England could prove to be avoiding the kind of slack start they have occasionally been prone to.
There have been a handful of day-one dips in recent years but in a two-match rubber it is particularly hazardous – as Root remembers all too well from a doomed trip to Auckland three years ago.
Back then his team were rounded up for just 58 by New Zealand in less than 21 overs and almost immediately surrendered their chances of emerging victorious on the brief tour.
“So many times in these two-match series, it’s imperative you get off to a good start. Look back to New Zealand, we had a terrible first morning session and it wiped the series out for us.
“We have started series poorly, as was mentioned last summer, and if we are to keep improving as a team we can’t be behind the eight ball going into the second Test match of every series.
“We are very keen to start off strongly and to get ahead of the game. The way we are going to do that is by scoring big first-innings runs and controlling the game. If we can manage to do that I think we’ll have success here.”
A sure-footed beginning would be even more of an achievement given only a solitary day of intra-squad warm-up action, blighted by a tight schedule and even tighter restrictions on movement.
“There’s no point hiding behind the fact: we haven’t had the ideal lead-up to this series. It’s probably the shortest lead-up we’ve ever had going into an away Test match series,” said Root.
“That’s part and parcel of playing in this era. It doesn’t take anything away from the group of players and the responsibility they have to put a performance in.”
Latest
-
News
Sri Lanka v England Day One: Anderson and Mathews vie for control in Galle
James Anderson returned figures of three for 24.
-
News
James Anderson reveals nerves on Test return
The England seamer added to his 600 wickets as Sri Lanka finished day one on 229 for four in Galle.
-
News
Alex Hales hits blistering Big Bash century
Hales has been in international exile since a second recreational drug test failure on the eve of England’s triumphant World Cup campaign.
-
News
Angelo Mathews century repels England after James Anderson’s three-wicket burst
The 38-year-old finished with exemplary figures of three for 24 on a surface offering precious little encouragement.
-
News
Shubman Gill learned backfoot game with ‘1500 short balls every day’
Shubman Gill impressed with his technique against short-pitch bowling, and his father has said he honed those skills during practice.
-
News
Sri Lanka steady ship after James Anderson takes three wickets in Galle
The home side reached 155 for three at tea, with England’s record wicket-taker responsible for all three dismissals.
-
News
CSA confident Australia tour will go ahead
CSA is confident the scheduled Australia tour to the country will take place despite the increasing number of Covid-19 cases in South Africa
-
News
James Anderson at the double on day one in Galle
Sri Lanka may have feared a repeat of their dismal 135 all out from last week.
-
News
Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer return to spearhead England’s tour of India
Jos Buttler will return home after the first Test as England seek to keep players fresh, while Ollie Pope will return when fit.
-
News
World Test Championship: Which countries are in the running for Lord’s final
The ICC World Test Championship final is set to be held at Lord’s in June, completing a two-year cycle of the inaugural tournament.