Joe Root Urges England to Be 'Good Role Models' Amid New Era

Joe Root called on his England players to be "really good role models and human beings" at the start of his second reign as Test captain. After a summer of turmoil that has left the Test team at a low ebb, England's new era begins with the first Test against Pakistan on Wednesday at Headingley, while Root has returned for a second stint as captain in succeeding Ben Stokes. Stokes announced his shock international retirement earlier this summer and Brendon McCullum was sacked as Test coach after just two wins in 10 Tests - a run dogged by off-field issues. "You always want to represent your country in the best possible light," Root, 35, told BBC Sport. "We might have fallen short of that on a few occasions in the recent past. "The only thing we can do to rectify that is be really good role models, good human beings and put in really strong performances on the field. "The first opportunity to do that is this week." Root, England's greatest batter and a veteran of 166 Tests, said he hoped his "natural persona" is suited to bringing a sense of calm to the men's national team. Off-field issues dominated last winter's tours, including an incident involving Harry Brook and a nightclub bouncer in Wellington and the team's drinking during a mid-Ashes trip to Noosa, culminating in a heavy 4-1 defeat by Australia. The issues continued into the summer when Stokes broke a team curfew, setting in motion a chaotic six weeks that resulted in a 2-1 series defeat by New Zealand, Stokes' retirement and the sacking of McCullum. Fellow New Zealander Stephen Fleming has been appointed as McCullum's replacement, but batting coach Marcus Trescothick will take interim charge of the Test side for the three-match series against Pakistan. Root, who has already led England in 65 Tests having held the role between 2017 and 2022, said one of his "big challenges" is "trying not to be Ben Stokes". "He is a very unique player with unbelievable qualities that I don't think are easy to replicate," Root said. "I don't think there is any point trying to. "It is going to have a slightly different look to it but that is OK." England were known for their attacking style under Stokes and McCullum but Root said he wants his side to be "versatile". "There has been a lot of good stuff that has happened in the past four years that will serve us really well. "It is about not ripping it up, just fine tuning and evolving that and taking that to the next level. We have got to find a way of evolving the team without him."