LONDON: England captain Joe Root is confident of working his way through a dip in form that has seen him trapped lbw nine times in his last 12 innings, and says his record of more than 14,000 Test runs proves he knows how to navigate difficult spells.
England’s leading Test run-scorer with 14,208 runs, second only to India’s Sachin Tendulkar (15,921) on the all-time list, has passed 50 only twice during the home summer.
“I’ve played this game a long time and I’ve always found ways of solving those problems and working it through,” the 35-year-old told BBC on Sunday. “I don’t see this as being any different. 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.”
Root’s comments came after England secured a home Test series win over Pakistan at Lord’s where he managed scores of four and 24 before being out lbw in both innings.
The build-up to the second Test was overshadowed by the controversy surrounding fast bowler Brydon Carse, who was dropped from the squad following an incident outside a nightclub in Derby.
Root said he had addressed the issue with his players and stressed the need for the squad to celebrate successes responsibly.
“It’s hard to win Test matches, it’s hard to win Test series. Enjoy it and celebrate it, but in a sensible and grown-up way,” he said.
Root believes a new batch of Dukes balls are the reason why there have been few big scores in Test cricket in England this season.
Neither England nor Pakistan have managed an individual century in the first two Tests of an ongoing three-match series, where the hosts have established an unbeatable 2-0 lead.
Pakistan have yet to pass 200 as a team in four innings so far.
There have only been two totals above 400 all summer — the first by New Zealand in their series-deciding win over England at Trent Bridge and the second by England in their innings and 103-run thrashing of Pakistan in the first Test at Headingley.
Bowlers have largely dominated with recalled England seamer Ollie Robinson taking 23 wickets in three Tests at a staggeringly low average of 8.34 following eight more scalps in a series-clinching 194-run win over Pakistan at Lord’s.
“I think the balls have been very different this year,” said Root after watching his pacemen overpower Pakistan on Sunday.
“I think there’s a different lacquer to them. I’ve not got evidence on that, I probably need to ask Dukes, but I think there’s a lacquer on the seam.
They don’t want them to go out of shape and get them changed.”
Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2026
