Joe Root: The England Captain Finding Form In 2021

Following an unprecedented 2020, in which sport itself was in scarce supply, cricket emerged superior as the world waited for the return of their favourite past times. Now, with light firmly in sight at the end of the long, dark tunnel, cricket has blossomed since the turn of the year and, so too, has England captain Joe Root. Consistent and elegant with the bat, unmistakably compelling with the ball, the Yorkshireman has had a whirlwind start to the year, racking up an inconceivable amount of runs and wickets a mere two months into the calendar year.

It was to be the perfect start of the year for the England captain following his side’s arrival into the ancient Sri Lankan city of Galle. For the sleepy supporters back in Blighty, the skipper administered a colossal innings that began at the latter end of Day One, and continued throughout the hot and humid conditions of Day Two, to be finally caught at deep midwicket early on Day Three. An astounding, mammoth total of 228 gave Root and his England side the ideal platform, as a comfortable seven wicket win was assured. The following and final Test saw Sri Lanka put up a hefty 1st innings total of 381, before Root and Co. set about mustering a lead.

It was Root, once more, who singlehandedly gave his side a fighting chance with a quite majestic knock of 186. With batsmen around him falling, it was pivotal that Root became the glue in an otherwise underwhelming batting performance. 495 stifling minutes out in the middle was met with precision and class, with astute timing and glorious drives, a run out was all that stood in the way of a second successive double hundred. Root, too, was effective with the ball, as the part-time spinner emerged with impressive figures of 2-0 off a mere 1.5 overs in the second innings.

Root looked to continue his sizzling hot form with the bat in Chennai ahead of an eagerly anticipated four-Test Series with India. It was quintessential conditions for batting, too, as Root established, by recording his third-straight first innings century, providing the catalyst for an even greater first innings England total. The hosts toiled away for two full torrid days before finally dismissing the tourists for 578, 218 runs of which came via the bat of the seemingly dominant Joseph Root, as England inflicted a 227-run defeat to silence the Chennai crowd, extending their unbeaten run under Root's captaincy to 11. It was marvellous captaincy, too, as Root’s game-plan tired the Indian players in searing hot weather.

A 317-run defeat in the second Test would seldom spring positives but, as shown in the recent, previous Tests, there has been a slight dependence on the England skipper, as few beside him have yet to excel with the bat. With the series locked at 1-1, the most recent Test was quite astonishing. With an abject England recording a rather slim 193 runs over both innings, there is, little to compliment the batting performance. Spin was key, and so it appeared, as Root recorded ridiculous figures of 5-8 as his side dismissed their opponents for a meagre 145. The pink ball arrowing out of the hands of Root with such ferocious venom, it was near impossible to play. A saddening 10 wicket loss was to be the final outcome, as India take a 2-1 lead into the fourth and final Test match.

Despite successive losses in Asia, Root has been a shining light. What must be discussed, is that so few have been as consistent as Root. A monumental effort with the bat in the opening three Tests was met with a simply stellar performance with the ball in the most recent, day-night Test. 759 runs in so few as 10 innings to start the year comprehensively eclipse that of last year, in which his 13 innings amounted to just 464. An average of 75.9 with the bat and just 13.0 with the ball, there is no player in world cricket, let alone amongst the England setup, that can rival the immense form of Root in 2021. The immediate attention, however, turns to the fourth and final Test, as England go in search of levelling the series.