Root pleased with England bowling dilemma just as Pakistan await
England captain Joe Root said he previously no qualms about having bowling “headaches” before next week’s first Test against Pakistan after his side’s 2-1 series win over the West Indies.
Root’s men came from behind to regain the Wisden Trophy, with a comprehensive 269-run victory in the 3rd Test at Good old Trafford in Tuesday sealing the hosts’ fightback.
England, in the primary major series since the coronavirus lockdown, rotated their fast bowlers through the entire three-match campaign.
Having controversially overlooked Stuart Broad from their four-wicket damage in the opener at Southampton, they observed the veteran seamer go back for the next several matches, with the 34-year-old becoming only the seventh bowler to take 500 Check wickets when he reached the landmark in Tuesday.
England will return to Manchester for the beginning match within their three-Check series against Pakistan, with the selectors needing to decide whether the loves of Broad, Chris Woakes, veteran spearhead James Anderson, England’s all-time leading Test wicket-taker, and express rapid Jofra Archer ought to be retained or to instead freshen up the assault with the rested pair of Mark Timber and Sam Curran.
Broad was the leading bowler on either area in the West Indies series, with 16 wickets in a miserly average of 10.93, while Woakes took 5-50 on Tuesday.
“Due to we’ve seen it’s hard to leave anyone away - just consider the players that haven’t played this game,” said Root.
“With the talent that’s sitting on the sidelines it’s an exciting destination to be and long might those headaches continue.”
But after weeks in a good bio-secure environment, Root urged his players to help make the the majority of their short break.
“I think for now it’s only important that everyone only goes away completely, has some time away from cricket, away from this bubble and attempts not to think about things for a couple of days,” he said.
“Towards the trunk end of the week we’ll strat to get our heads around the problems that another three games will pose for us,” the Yorkshire batsman added.
“It’s quite crucial that the guys benefit from the next four or five days and really try to make the most of that point away, time aware of loved ones.
“We’ve all been incredibly excited about getting residence and spending that point refreshing and having away, so hopefully whenever we all come back we’ll prepare yourself to crack on with another very exciting series.”
