England skipper, Joe Root, has hinted that his side will be making a number of changes before facing Pakistan in a two-match Test series.
Although Root has been in charge of the English side for more than a year, the team has never looked in worse shape than it is right now. England suffered a heavy loss of 4-0 in the Ashes series followed by another Test series loss in New Zealand.
Due to these consistently poor performances, Root has decided to make significant changes.
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Speaking on the matter, the skipper said:
Looking forward, there will be changes, especially long-term and then it is up to guys to come in and take the opportunities. I want us to keep searching for ways to be a really effective side in a number of different conditions.
Despite registering good individual performances, Root remained unsold in the on-going IPL season. However, Root claims that he holds no grudges and has moved on completely.
He added:
It’s not frustration watching the other guys. I went into the IPL auction to get a bit more exposure to T20 cricket, it didn’t materialize, it would have been nice to be involved in that but I have got no bitter feelings towards the other guys, I think it’s great.
On the flip side, English all-rounder Ben Stokes and wicket-keeper Jos Butler have been included in IPL and Root believes that their experience will be invaluable going forward.
They’ll benefit hugely from it and we, as a side, will benefit hugely from it. Look at the way Jos and Ben and a few guys came back from it last year and what it has brought to their games.
Hopefully that can happen on a wider scale with more and more players going out there from English cricket, playing under scrutiny and in the high-pressure situations that that tournament brings, it can only be a good thing for us in the long term.
England will face Pakistan in the first Test match on 24th May at Lord’s whereas the following Test match will be played at Headingley on 1st June.
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