Joe Root was always better than everyone else – and he’s still improving

Huge congratulations to my captain, my team-mate and my friend Joe Root on leading the side out this week for his 100th Test for England.

Even though it is under unusual circumstances without a big crowd, it will be a very special occasion for a man who has come a long way from the scrawny little kid I first saw nearly 17 years ago.

We were lining up against each other for the first time as Cumbria Under 13s took on Yorkshire Under 13s at Sedbergh School and we were at opposite ends of the spectrum in many ways.

Little did I know then that this lad would go on to become one of my best mates.

To be honest none of us in the Cumbria team had too many nice things to say about the opposition as they strutted around in the full branded Yorkshire training kit, while we had to warm up in our whites.

He was a standout player from a young age, with such a fantastic technique, way beyond anyone else at that level.

While the rest of us just tried to hit the ball as hard as we could, Joe was already placing it into the gaps.

Of course with the size of him there was little power to back up the shots, he would smash it as hard as he could and it would just about get to the 30 yard circle!

A couple of years later we were playing together for the North of England and we went to the Under 15 Bunbury festival where Joe again stood out and I had a shocker.

It meant that it wasn’t until England Under 19s where we actually played regularly together and that is where our friendship was cemented.

A few of us used to call him the ‘teacher’s pet’ because he was always getting picked for everything, but the truth is that was nothing more than a bit of jealousy because he was just better than everyone else.

And while there are no guarantees that any of us would go on to higher honours, we all knew that Joe would keep going.

It wasn’t just about the ability he had as a batsman, but also the approach to his game. His willingness to work hard on getting better.

That is something we all do in the England team, but Joe was doing it when the rest of us were still finding our way and a little unsure about how to go about things.

Once he filled out and added the power to go with the skills he already had, he became an incredible all format cricketer who continues to improve.

Just watching him go about his business in Sri Lanka from home was a clear example of how he sets the bar for himself and others, and was the perfect way to lead into this India series and a landmark such as this.

There will be some extra excitement for me too, since it is going to be my first game of the year and I am itching to get out there and get started for 2021.

I’ve had a welcome break and even though I hate missing matches for England, there is a bigger picture. I am raring to go for India now and this is a tough and exciting series I want us to win.

Hopefully as we move through the year, me and the other multi-format players will feel the benefits of our breaks so we can deliver in big matches and series to come.

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