David Lloyd believes Joe Root is now shaping England into his own image after England beat Sri Lanka 3-0 in the Test series – the first away-series win under his leadership.
The pundit and former England coach believes the Yorkshireman’s authority has augmented as several experienced campaigners have not featured, with Stuart Broad only playing the final Test as a replacement for James Anderson, while Alastair Cook retired at the end of the English summer.
The tourists outplayed Sri Lanka, securing England’s first away-series whitewash since 1963 – and their first ever in the sub-continent.
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Stuart Broad was not selected for the first two Tests against Sri Lanka [/caption]
“For the first time, I’m seeing that this is Root’s team,” Lloyd told Sky Sports. “He’s got the authority – ‘this is my team’.”
[breakout id=”0”][/breakout]”We know the way that he wants them to play – he wants them to be aggressive and push on, which is great. It’s a roller coaster ride really.
“But the faster you get your runs, the sooner you’re going to be bowling and he feels that he is confident enough in his attack to take 20 wickets.”
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David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd believes this England team is now very much Joe Root’s side[/caption]
With a horses for courses mindset, England have made significant changes to their Test line-up in Sri Lanka, but Lloyd doesn’t envisage too many changes ahead of England’s tour of the West Indies next year.
[breakout id=”1″][/breakout]”I don’t think there’ll be many changes because what we’re hearing in that the pitches in the West Indies are similar to here,” he added.
“They’re not quick pitches, they’re slow, low turners and so England will be well equipped with the pace bowlers they’ve got, the variations they have with Ben Stokes and with the three spinners. I wouldn’t think there would be many changes, if any.”
