*LONDON:* As Pakistan takes on England in the test series, England hasmade a key change for Pakistan Tests as captain Joe Root will “take on abit more responsibility” by batting at number three.
Root has been number four in all but one of his side’s matches since August2017, but is set to move up a spot in the first Test starting on Thursday.
“I’ve had a year in the captaincy now and I feel I’ve gained enoughexperience to feel comfortable,” said the England Test captain in an*interview* link>.
Joe Root, England’s Test captain, says he is ready to move back to the No.3position in the batting order and take on “a bit more responsibility”following a disappointing winter for his team.
England lost a Test to the Windies at home before winning the three-matchseries 2-1 in August-September 2017 and then lost the Ashes in Australia4-0 and a two-Test series in New Zealand 1-0.
Root batted at No.4 in all but one of those matches and hasn’t scored acentury since the first Test against the Windies, even though he hascrossed 50 eight times in that period.
With the top order, including England’s all-time leading run-scorerAlastair Cook, struggling for runs, the plan is to have Root return to No.3in the forthcoming series against Pakistan in a bid to stabilise thebatting.
Root has had success at both No.3 and No.4, as well as at No.5 in the earlypart of his career, but since taking over the captaincy from Cook, he haspreferred the No.4 slot even though Trevor Bayliss, the England coach, hascalled No.3 Root’s best position.
With James Vince dropped for the first Test against Pakistan atLord’s starting on Thursday 24 May, Root will go back to No.3 and isrelishing the opportunity. “It’s an opportunity for me to take on a bitmore responsibility,” he said. “I’ve had a year in the captaincy now and Ifeel I’ve gained enough experience to feel comfortable doing that.