While adjusting to England’s new strategy, Joe Root said, “I’m just trying to find my role in this team.”

Since Ben Stokes was named the Test captain, England has defeated New Zealand eleven times in as many games, including a thrashing in the first Test at Mount Maunganui. The cricketing manual has been thrown out the window by the English batters’ swashbuckling batting style, but former England captain and batting great Joe Root is still getting used to his team’s extremely aggressive manner.

Joe Root has struggled to perform to his customary high standards after contributing greatly to his team’s first four games under Ben Stokes by recording three hundreds. The prolific English run scorer believes that because he is still figuring out his place on the side, he has not been able to contribute to the team’s success.

“I believe I simply need to discover what is most comfortable for me, and that will take some time. If I’m being completely honest, leaving the captaincy brought some initial relief, and right now I’m just trying to figure out what my place is on this squad. With my background, it may sound absurd, but you want to participate and be a part of it. You want to make a significant contribution, and in the most recent Test matches, I feel like I haven’t been able to do that, Joe Root was cited as saying by The Independent.
Since I haven’t performed in a while, I feel a little sharper: Root
In the second innings of the first Test series match against New Zealand, the Yorkshireman quickly reached half a century. The star batsman has acknowledged that the failure to play well in the previous games has given him a fire in his belly, and he is ready to add aggressive shots to his Test game.

“With the game’s rhythms, I think I may have become a little engrossed in it. I haven’t played for a little bit, but it’s given me a little nudge, a kick in the pants, to remind me that this is how I should play cricket and how I can constantly contribute to this team. I won’t quit playing it; perhaps I’ll just play it more carefully. It’s now a part of my Test strategy, and I’ll keep using it when the moment is perfect,” he continued.