'14,000 runs for a reason' - Root calm on form

August 30, 2026 154news Acacia

Joe Root: England Captain Calm on Form, Saying 'I've Got 14,000 Runs for a Reason' - BBC Sport

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'14,000 runs for a reason' - Root calm on form

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Figure caption: Highlights: England humble poor Pakistan to confirm series win at Lord's

By Stephan Shemilt, Cricket Correspondent at Lord's

Published 30 minutes ago

Joe Root, England's all-time leading Test run-scorer, is "not too concerned" about his recent modest returns with the bat, stating:

I've got 14,000 runs for a reason.

The England captain has passed 50 only twice this summer, averaging 29.44, his second-lowest in a home season in a 14-year international career. He's been lbw nine times in his past seven Tests, including seven times this summer.

Root acknowledged the challenge of batting against the moving ball in the UK this summer but pointed to his remarkable Test career, with only India great Sachin Tendulkar having more runs than him (14,208).

"I've played this game a long time and I've always found ways of solving those problems," Root told the BBC's Today at the Test. "I don't see this as being any different.

There's a reason why I've got 14,000 runs... Of course it's frustrating that there's sort of a trend... but also be aware of what you need to do to keep improving and keeping getting better. I'm pretty sure I'll get through the other side. I'm not too concerned about that."

Last summer, former Australia opener David Warner made light of Root's prospects in the Ashes when he said: "He will have to take the surfboard off his front leg." At the time, Warner's suggestion was incorrect. However, Root's recent run of lbws began when he was trapped by Australia's Jhye Richardson in the second innings of the Boxing Day Test. Since then, he's been lbw nine times (all to pace bowlers) in 12 innings.

Root's specific problem has been against right-arm bowlers pitching the ball outside off stump and nipping it back towards him. Of his nine recent lbws, none have come at the hands of high-pace bowlers, rather those with a maximum speed around 84mph.

"You're never given anything in this game," said Root. "You have to work for everything... I'll certainly keep doing that."

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