England vs Pakistan 2020: Joe Root Hopes To Dominate From The Very Start Of The Test Series

Aug 5, 2020 at 1:57 PM

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England vs Pakistan 2020: Joe Root Hopes To Dominate From The Very Start Of The Test Series

England Test captain Joe Root wants to be dominant against Pakistan from the very start of the three-match series. He doesn’t want to take the visitors for granted because they have not played any series for the past five months amid the pandemic. 

In the last month concluded Test series against West Indies, England didn’t have an impressive start as they lost the first match by four wickets. In that match, the captain Joe root was absent because of his parental duties. However, the host made a strong comeback after winning back to back two Test matches eventually clinching the Trophy. According to Root’s, the victory against West Indies has set the tone for them in the upcoming series against Pakistan, starting from 5 August. 

No Excuse going into this week: Joe Root

Ben Stokes, Joe Root, England and Wales Cricket Board, ECB
Ben Stokes and Joe Root. Image Credit: Getty Images.

England captain Joe Root has cleared his team’s intention of winning against Pakistan. He said that his teammates are up to speed after playing competitive cricket in the last Test series. As per him, the team is in rhythm so there should be no excuse for their preparation. Notably, England played the last two Tests against West Indies at Old Trafford which is also the venue for the first Test against Pakistan. So, Root opines that it is an added advantage for them because they well know with the pitch. 

“Fortunately, we have three games under our belt coming into this. We played some really good cricket in the last two so the guys are up to speed. We are familiar with the rhythm of Test cricket too, so there is no excuse going into this week. Having good success on this ground in two Test matches will fill our group with a huge amount of confidence,” Joe Root said as quoted by ESPNCricinfo. 

“We are playing some very good cricket at the minute; as well as we have done for a while. We are used to playing in this environment, having had three games under our belt now, and feel we are starting to emulate our game-plan more consistently. The challenge for us will continue to keep trying to nail that as much as possible and becoming more consistent,” he added. 

England don’t take Pakistan for granted: Root

Joe Root
Joe Root. Image Credit: Getty Images.

Pakistan will be playing their first series since the outbreak of the virus. They have been in England for over a month during which they were under quarantine and had practice matches. 

Although Pakistan might take time to get into the groove, Joe Root doesn’t want to assume the visitors as weak. He is well aware of Pakistan’s talent because England have failed to beat them home or away since 2010. The England captain wants to get onto their nerves with the start of the series. 

“It’s really important we don’t take it for granted,” Root said. “We are very aware Pakistan is a talented team and very up for this series.

“We are all very aware that, in the previous series, we have not got off to the best starts and we have been one-nil down, so the focus this time is trying to get a win early on and trying to drive the series from there,” he said. 

“It always feels like hard work when you are behind in the series. We want to make sure we start well this time around. We are very aware of it,”he added.

After playing the Test series, England and Pakistan will play three-match T20I series, scheduled on 28th August.

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