‘One of the best coaches I’ve worked with’ – Joe Root throws weight behind head coach Brendon McCullum

Joe Root (Source: Sameera Peiris/Getty Images)

Senior English batter Joe Root has thrown in his support behind head coach Brendon McCullum, calling him ‘one of the best coaches’ he has ever worked alongside. McCullum’s position has come under scrutiny after England’s recent heavy Ashes defeat.

Root’s positive comments for McCullum come shortly after those provided by Harry Brook and Ben Stokes after the Ashes pummeling Down Under. Root credited McCullum for guiding the former to improve his gameplay significantly.

“I think Baz is one of the best coaches I’ve ever worked with. Obviously, we’re disappointed with the way things went out in Australia, but I still think there’s a lot more really exciting things to come from this group. If you look at my own personal game, the time that he’s been the coach, it’s improved tenfold,” stated Root, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

Root also went onto praise Brook’s captaincy. The 35-year-old voiced backing for Brook and was confident that he will only grow as a batter and captain after the Ashes, in which Brook was the deputy skipper.

“Harry’s a great fella and he’s going to be an incredible captain. He clearly feels bad about what happened, but from my side of things, he’s got a job to do and I think he’s doing it exceptionally well. He’s apologised, he’s taken his punishment and he’s desperate to take this team forward. I’m fully behind him and want to see him move past it and learn from it and grow as a person and as a captain off the back of it,” he added.

Root (75 off 90) and Brook (42 off 75) played instrumental roles in guiding England to a five-wicket win in the second ODI of the series against Sri Lanka. On a turning Colombo track, both batters held their own and were efficient in rotating the strike to keep their partnership ticking. The third and final ODI becomes a deciding one. It will be played on January 27.

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