Joe Root proud of England's adaptability as he channels his 'inner Hussain'

News Joe Root proud of England's adaptability as he channels his 'inner Hussain' Praise for Pope captaincy as team overcomes Sri Lanka challenge to win with day to spare Andrew Miller 24-Aug-2024 • 8 mins ago Joe Root and Chris Woakes bask in England's victory • Gareth Copley/Getty Images {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"ImageObject","contentUrl":"https://img1.hscicdn.

com/image/upload/f_auto/lsci/db/PICTURES/CMS/386500/386590.4.jpg","caption":"Joe Root and Chris Woakes bask in England's victory"} Joe Root joked that he'd been forced to channel his "inner [Nasser] Hussain" in tricky batting conditions at Emirates Old Trafford, after anchoring England's taxing run-chase in the first Test against Sri Lanka with an unbeaten 62 from 128 balls.

Speaking to Hussain and Ian Ward on Sky Sports, shortly after England's five-wicket win on the fourth evening of the match, Root referenced Hussain's famously nuggety batting approach and career strike-rate of 40, adding that he was also now known as "Geoff" up in the England dressing-room, in reference to another English barnacle of yesteryear, Geoff Boycott. Joking aside, however, Root said that he was proud of the adaptability he had demonstrated to close out England's fourth victory in as many Tests this summer, adding that "sometimes it's good to win ugly", even though he hopes that the team's more free-flowing Bazball ethos will be able to re-emerge at Lord's and the Kia Oval in the final two matches of the series. Not onl.