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Joe Root: England vice-captain adds mischief and might in new role Joe Root: England vice-captain adds mischief and might in new role
(about 1 hour later)
By 4pm at Lord’s the skies had bruised, the floodlights were on, Tim Southee had the new ball and England’s lead in their second innings was 134 runs with six wickets in hand. It was crunch time for their two men at the crease; the period in which the game could not be won but could certainly be lost. By 4pm at Lord’s the skies had bruised, the floodlights were on, Tim Southee had the new ball and England’s lead in their second innings was 134 runs with six wickets in hand. It was crunch time for their two men at the crease – the period in which the game could not be won but could certainly be lost.
If there were nerves in the home dressing room, their newly appointed vice-captain was not showing it on the balcony of the pavilion. Instead, Joe Root was sat next to the interim coach, Paul Farbrace, chuckling away as he listened, via one of those earpiece gizmos, to the television commentary. If there were nerves in the home dressing room, their newly appointed vice-captain was not showing it on the balcony of the pavilion. Instead Joe Root was sitting next to the interim coach, Paul Farbrace, chuckling away as he listened, via one of those earpiece gizmos, to the television commentary.
Mike Atherton, himself once saddled with the Future England Captain moniker, had recalled their on-stage exchange at the team awards dinner the previous Monday that saw Root, the newly crowned men’s cricketer of the year, praise the fuller Farbrace for being “full of energy – even if he doesn’t look it”. Responsibility is yet to blunt his natural cheekiness.Mike Atherton, himself once saddled with the Future England Captain moniker, had recalled their on-stage exchange at the team awards dinner the previous Monday that saw Root, the newly crowned men’s cricketer of the year, praise the fuller Farbrace for being “full of energy – even if he doesn’t look it”. Responsibility is yet to blunt his natural cheekiness.
Root will walk away from his first Test as deputy to Alastair Cook knowing that two chances to get his name on the honours board went begging after following up his innings-salvaging 98 on day one with 84 on Sunday that, if not starting from as ropey a position as 25 for three, felt harder earned. And should victory follow, both will have been key. Root will walk away from his first Test as deputy to Alastair Cook knowing that two chances to get his name on the honours board went begging after following his innings-salvaging 98 on day one with 84 on Sunday that, if not starting from as ropey a position as 25 for three, felt harder earned. And should victory follow, both will have been key.
Arriving at the crease after the third ball of the day from Southee had persuaded Ian Bell to torch the 55 minutes of hard graft the night before with a loose drive, Root knew he was in for a test of his mettle when a second consecutive outswinger from the right-armer whooshed past his outside edge. New Zealand smelled blood.Arriving at the crease after the third ball of the day from Southee had persuaded Ian Bell to torch the 55 minutes of hard graft the night before with a loose drive, Root knew he was in for a test of his mettle when a second consecutive outswinger from the right-armer whooshed past his outside edge. New Zealand smelled blood.
With seven runs to his name came a second scare as a low catch to mid-wicket off Trent Boult was deemed to have been grassed by the third umpire Rod Tucker. Twice in the 37th over he was beaten outside the off stump by the promising debutant Matt Henry, and the left-armer Boult was denied a strong lbw shout three balls before lunch. With seven runs to his name came a second scare as a low catch to mid-wicket off Trent Boult was deemed to have been grassed by the third umpire, Rod Tucker. Twice in the 37th over he was beaten outside the off stump by the promising debutant Matt Henry, and the left-armer Boult was denied a strong lbw shout three balls before lunch.
It was not only the high class fast bowling Root needed to survive, with Cook close to running out his junior partner with 67 to his name; a single only denied homicidal status by virtue of sub fielder Luke Rochi’s wayward throw. It was not only the high-class fast bowling Root needed to survive, with Cook close to running out his junior partner with 67 to his name, a single denied homicidal status only by the sub fielder Luke Rochi’s wayward throw.
These brief moments of fortune should not detract. There was resolute defence interspersed with attacking zeal, against the off-spinner Mark Craig in particular from whom he struck six of his 11 fours. These brief moments of fortune should not detract. There was resolute defence interspersed with attacking zeal, against the off-spinner Mark Craig in particular, from whom he struck six of his 11 fours.
In the end it took a none-too subtle trap remove him. Backing himself to beat the three men out on the hook, Root connected sweetly to Henry’s short-pitched delivery only to pick out the stationary Boult at long-leg. In the end it took a none too subtle trap remove him. Backing himself to beat the three men out on the hook, Root connected sweetly to Henry’s short-pitched delivery only to pick out the stationary Boult at long-leg.
But for two hours and 20 minutes, he and Cook – England captains future and present – had combined for a stand of 158 in 43 overs that turned the overnight deficit of 60 into a lead of 98 and set the stage for the outrageous display of shock and awe that was to follow from the bat of Ben Stokes.But for two hours and 20 minutes, he and Cook – England captains future and present – had combined for a stand of 158 in 43 overs that turned the overnight deficit of 60 into a lead of 98 and set the stage for the outrageous display of shock and awe that was to follow from the bat of Ben Stokes.
Still on the balcony and in his whites, Root led the dressing room celebrations at the arrival of the all-rounder’s century, offering a military salute to his colleague with another of those trademark grins. A humorous nod to Marlon Samuels and that send-off in Grenada it may have been but one day it will be Stokes – and his England team-mates – returning the gesture.Still on the balcony and in his whites, Root led the dressing room celebrations at the arrival of the all-rounder’s century, offering a military salute to his colleague with another of those trademark grins. A humorous nod to Marlon Samuels and that send-off in Grenada it may have been but one day it will be Stokes – and his England team-mates – returning the gesture.