England captain Joe Root has dismissed concerns regarding his recent form with the bat, maintaining confidence in his ability to overcome a challenging run of dismissals. Despite passing 50 only twice this summer, the 35-year-old remains resolute, citing his career total of 14,208 Test runs—a tally surpassed only by India legend Sachin Tendulkar—as evidence of his pedigree.
Root’s recent struggles have been marked by a recurring vulnerability to leg-before-wicket decisions. He has been dismissed lbw nine times in his past seven Tests, including seven instances during the current home season. This trend has contributed to a batting average of 29.44, his second-lowest in a home season throughout his 14-year international career. The dismissals have primarily occurred against right-arm bowlers delivering the ball outside off stump, with the ball nipping back in at speeds around 84mph.
Addressing his form, Root told Today at the Test that he has consistently found solutions to technical challenges throughout his career. He noted that several of his recent dismissals were close calls that could have easily gone in his favor, while also suggesting that the ball has deviated more than usual. Furthermore, Root raised concerns regarding the quality of Dukes cricket balls, alleging that a different lacquer and surface density have made them more prone to denting and changing shape. When approached for comment, Dukes denied any changes to their manufacturing process.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan has backed the current skipper to resolve these technical issues, noting that while the frequency of the lbw dismissals is a legitimate concern, Root has successfully navigated similar slumps in the past. Root himself emphasized that he is committed to evolving his technique, stating that he has never shied away from the hard work required to succeed at the highest level.
The captain’s personal form has not hindered England’s collective success, as the team recently secured a 194-run victory over Pakistan at Lord’s to clinch the series. This result marks England’s first series win since 2024 and represents a strong start to Root’s second stint as captain, with two wins in his first two matches.
Off the field, the team has faced scrutiny following an incident involving pace bowler Brydon Carse, who was dropped from the squad after being involved in an altercation outside a nightclub in Derby. Root, who previously expressed frustration over the drinking-related controversy, has urged his players to celebrate their recent series win in a professional manner. He stressed the importance of avoiding further negative headlines, advising his teammates to enjoy the victory sensibly and in a grown-up way. Echoing this sentiment, Vaughan suggested the squad should stay in and have a quiet night to avoid unwanted attention on social media. The report also notes that saying he has “14,000 runs for a reason”, joe Root is “not too concerned” about his recent modest returns with the bat. The report also notes that i’ve played this game a long time and I’ve always found ways of solving those problems and working it through,” Root told Today at the Test. The report also notes that there’s a reason why I’ve got 14,000 runs and a reason why I’ve played the best part of 15 years at this level. The report also notes that of course it’s frustrating that there’s sort of a trend. The report also notes that which could have gone the other way, and the ball is probably deviating more than it ever has, there are probably four umpires’ calls within that. The report also notes that but also be aware of what you need to do to keep improving and keep getting better, you try and be realistic and understand where everything’s at. The report also notes that i’m pretty sure I’ll get through the other side. The report also notes that last summer, former Australia opener David Warner took a dig at Root’s prospects of success in the Ashes series that was to follow when he said: “He will have to take the surfboard off his front leg.
