Joe Root not letting No 1 Test batting ranking get to him as he eyes India series win

Root sends message to Stokes over indefinite break from cricket

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

Joe Root says reaching the top of the world Test rankings will not deflect his focus from the job in hand – beating India this summer. Six centuries this year and three in a row against India this summer proved enough to lift the England captain ahead of Kane Williamson in the ICC Test rankings.

But Root insisted while reaching the top of the batting rankings for the first time since 2015 was “nice” he maintained it would mean little if England were defeated by India.

“Obviously it’s a nice thing to hear but my main focus is to try and keep scoring runs in this series and get us across the line in this series,” said Root.

“As nice as it is though there is still so much hard work to do and my focus doesn’t change.

“It is all about continuing to keep getting better and to continue to scoring runs and keep setting up games to try and win Test matches.”

Root, who last topped the ICC charts in late 2015, has reached the summit for the third time in his career.

But he said he hoped even better form was to come, starting at The Oval tomorrow where England and India both aim to strike a decisive blow in a series tied at 1-1.

“Hopefully the form of my life is still to come but I certainly feel very good at the minute and have to stay focussed and diligent on the preparation I am doing around and behind the games.

“I have to try to keep giving myself the best chance to keep dragging out some big scores.”

Root confirmed Moeen Ali will be his vice captain at The Oval in the absence of Jos Buttler who is taking time out to be present at the birth of his second child.

“Moeen is a natural leader and someone that the team gravitate towards for a number of reasons,” said Root, explaining his decision.

“One of them being the way he understands the game.

“I think he has a brilliant cricket brain and has done wonderfully well when he has done the role in domestic cricket and in short formats.

“He will be probably looking forward to getting the DRS signal out when I’m off the field!

“But It will be a proud moment for him but it is thoroughly deserved because of how he goes about the game and what he offers to the team.”

Source: Read Full Article