Root out to prove point against Windies after dodging axe post-Ashes

There is no doubt in Joe Root’s mind he remains the best man to lead England as they embark on their latest new era with today’s first Test against West Indies.

‘I would never do anything I didn’t think was best for this team,’ said Root as he prepared for what must be his last stand as captain. 

‘If I thought it would impact negatively on the team I would not make the decision to carry on. I think I’m the right man for the role, the right man to take England forward. And as long as that’s the case I’ll be fully committed to it.’ 

They were defiant words from a captain who has now been in charge for five years, has seen his team win only one of their last 14 Tests and has just returned from a third Ashes series in charge, one he said would define his captaincy, without success. And one that has claimed just about every other senior decision maker in its wake.

So while the feeling persists that Root only escaped the post-Ashes cull that claimed Ashley Giles, Chris Silverwood, Graham Thorpe and eight players because there simply was no-one else to become captain, the man himself is attempting to launch Joe Root the captain 2.0.

‘When I was weighing things up it would have been wrong to just commit to a short-term thing,’ said Root. ‘I’m very excited and energised and I’m grateful to get the opportunity to do this here. It’s a chance for all of us to prove a point.’

How England need to do just that here in a region where they have won just one Test series in the last 54 years. And they will attempt to prove it with what looks, despite all protestations to the contrary, like a ‘developmental’ England side.

Certainly Craig Overton, who today forms an unlikely new-ball partnership with Chris Woakes, Dan Lawrence and Jack