Joe Root credits England coach Brendon McCullum with adding new layers to his game - 'He's opened my eyes'
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
Published 03/02/2025 at 19:56 GMT
Joe Root has been a stellar performer for England in all formats of the game, but it is in the Test arena where he has flourished in recent years. But he is not done with white-ball cricket and he has credited coach Brendon McCullum for expanding his game. Root will be in action for England in the ODI series with India, live on TNT Sports and discovery+
'Is there not a set amount of time' - Cook a 'little bit surprised' to see Dube back in India team
Video credit: Eurosport
Joe Root has credited England coach Brendon McCullum with opening his eyes to what he can do in the game.
Root is one of the finest batters in the history of cricket, and is now fifth on the all-time Test run scorers’ list with 12,972 runs to his name.
The 34-year-old was long seen as a great before McCullum took control of the England Test team in 2022, but Root has added new layers to his game in the past couple of years.
Root says McCullum's free-flowing coaching style has allowed him to try things at the crease without fear of criticism.
"He's opened my eyes to looking at the game slightly differently, which at 31 or 32 years old, when Baz [McCullum] came in, is a really refreshing thing," Root told cricinfo. "To marry that with the experience that I already had was really quite exciting. I feel it's added quite a lot to my own game, about how you look at managing different bowlers.
"Whether it's where you stand, or whether you create an angle. It's about being proactive and trying to get ahead of the game in many respects. Before that, generally, I'd be quite technical and start thinking about shoulders, feet, head, whatever - whereas I think Baz's big strength is very situation-based in the way that he thinks about the game, which I think is brilliant.
"Baz encourages you to bring the best out of yourself. If that is to be a little bit more aggressive, then so be it. It's about, if you get the opportunity to get ahead in the game, or to take someone off their length, or try and nullify a certain danger, then do it.
"He gives you that freedom and that opportunity to take that on. There's no repercussions to it."
Root has joined up with the England squad for the One Day International leg of the tour of India, which is live on TNT Sports and discovery+
The former captain of the Test side is set to play his first ODI since the 2023 World Cup, and Root is relishing the prospect of helping McCullum, captain Jos Buttler and his team-mates.
"Whether it's helping Jos out or the younger batters, whatever it is, I'm just trying to give as much as I can," Root said.
Root can offer a spin option with the ball, and is happy to provide balance to the side.
"All you want to do is give your captain more options," he said. "So if someone's having a rough time of it or being targeted, then it's another option. If there's a really good match-up, then you never know, you might get an opportunity.
"More than anything, if it can help balance the side or if it can give you more options within the innings, then that can only be a good thing."
After defeat to India in the T20I leg of the tour, England kick off the ODI series in Nagpur on Thursday.
- - -
Watch and stream England men's 2025 white-ball tour of India live on TNT Sports and discovery+
Scan me
Share this article
Related Topics
Advertisement
Advertisement