One of England’s greatest ever players, Joe Root has formed the blueprint of how a top cricketer should approach the modern game.
While hailing from the south of the county in Sheffield, Root provides a great example to players from Hull on how to go about reaching the top of the game.
From humble beginnings to England stardom
Starting his cricket with Sheffield Collegiate CC, Root went on to make his Yorkshire second-team debut in July 2007. From playing for his local side in Sheffield, Root is now a key figure in the England squad and will be hoping to star once again in the Ashes series this summer. England are 11/8 in a bet on cricket to win the Ashes against an Australian side that last lost the prestigious series back in 2015. Root’s development to becoming a key figure in recent Ashes series will certainly have been aided by another England skipper, Michael Vaughan, also coming through the ranks at Sheffield Collegiate CC and providing inspiration.
There are a number of cricket clubs in Hull which are looking to develop players and can set aspiring stars on the path to the County Championship and England recognition in the future. From Hull Cricket Club to Kirkella CC or Cottingham CC, there are a host of teams that will be eager to showcase local talent.
Root overcomes hardship and shows longevity
Having made his Test debut for England back in 2012, Root has shown what it takes to be a mainstay in the national setup for so many years. A naturally gifted cricketer, Root has combined his innate ability with plenty of hard work behind the scenes to make him one of the best batters on the planet. Undoubtedly if England are going to be successful in this summer’s Ashes series, Root will likely have to play a key role with bat in hand, while also contributing with the odd bowling spell.
Of course, it has not always been straightforward for Root, and like any lengthy career, there have been bumps in the road. The Yorkshireman was the natural successor to former England skipper Alastair Cook and took over the armband in February 2017 to become the country’s 80th captain. While Root did enjoy successes as Test captain, his time with the armband eventually came to an end in April 2022. Having skippered the side on 64 occasions, Root took what he described as the toughest decision of his career to step down from the captaincy. Ben Stokes took over the role and the Durham star will be the man to lead England into the 2023 Ashes series on English soil, with matches taking place this summer at Edgbaston, Lord’s, Headingley, Old Trafford and The Oval.
Root has managed to overcome the tougher times in his career and continues to be one of the first names on the team sheet for the Test side. Players from Hull can look to Root’s example and perhaps the city can produce another England star of the future.