Like most modern Test captains Joe Root has had to learn how to lead on the job. Now after 23 games in charge the feeling grows he has the measure of one of the most demanding posts in British sport. He is more comfortable as captain. This impression is enhanced by his acknowledgment he makes mistakes out there. Insecure captains do not usually admit that.
After England’s 57-run victory in Pallekele Root reflected on Sri Lanka’s run-chase, which at various points on Saturday looked as if it might be successful. “Those two extended periods in the first two sessions really hurt us. I didn’t manage those as well as I could as captain, having not had that experience before. It’s a good learner for me”.
Root frets like the rest of us. He admitted he barely slept on Saturday night with England needing three wickets for a rare series victory overseas. “I had about three hours, I reckon. I was thinking about all the different scenarios that could happen but as soon as I got to the dressing room I felt very calm. Knowing the ability within the dressing room, the number of different options we can turn to, we were always going to be able to create enough chances to win. Then it was just about being cool enough to take them. We certainly did that”.
Root described the series victory as “very special”. “I think we have probably played better than anticipated,” he said. “We have read the situations in the games very well given we don’t have much experience here. Jimmy Anderson is the only one in these two games who has played here before in Test cricket. The way we have handled all that is fantastic.
“The guys have worked extremely hard. We’ve planned very well. We said we were going to play in a certain manner and we’ve backed that up in the two games. That’s probably the most pleasing thing. We’ve stuck to our guns. We’ve been ruthless when we’ve had opportunities to get ahead in the game and we’ve soaked up pressure well on occasions.”
Root clearly sees the buildup to the Christchurch Test of last April, which was drawn, as a landmark. “It’s been a great eight months for us. It felt like we had a breakthrough moment at the start of the Christchurch Test, where we sort of turned a corner [after a very long team meeting]. We had a little blip in the first Test against Pakistan but since that moment we’ve gone on an upward curve”.
“We’re learning from the one-day side as well. Eoin Morgan said to the guys ‘go and play with freedom’ and you saw when the guys really took to that, harnessed it, embraced it, there was a big improvement very quickly. It’s not as straightforward as that in Test cricket. You can’t say ‘swing as hard as you can’ but at times being able to take pressure off and having a clear understanding of how you want to play can really help.”
The team appear to be heading in the right direction and so does the captain. In those 23 Tests in charge Root has 12 wins and nine losses. With one Test against Sri Lanka to come this week in Colombo, three in the West Indies early next year and another against Ireland at Lord’s in July that record should be looking even healthier by the time the Ashes get underway in 1 August.