- Title: Root relishing first test as England skipper
- Date: 5th July 2017
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (JULY 5, 2017) (REUTERS) ****WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** WIDE OF LORD'S JOE ROOT AND DEAN ELGAR HOLDING TROPHIES AHEAD OF TEST SERIES WIDE OF ROOT AND ELGAR PHOTOGRAPHERS, PAN AROUND TO ROOT AND ELGAR (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENGLAND CRICKET CAPTAIN JOE ROOT SAYING: "I am very excited we have had two brilliant days preparation here and I am just really looking forward to getting out there now." REPORTER ASKING IF ROOT IS APPROACHING THINGS DIFFERENTLY: "Yeah naturally there is a few other things that come across your mind. But I have really enjoyed the past few days and I just want to get out there now and I want to start the week off and get on the field." ROOT BEING INTERVIEWED (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENGLAND CRICKET CAPTAIN JOE ROOT SAYING: "I thought the way he bowled in India and the way he has performed throughout this season has been brilliant and he will obviously bring us a lot of control and a little bit of depth in terms of batting as well." ROOT BEING INTERVIEWED (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENGLAND CRICKET CAPTAIN JOE ROOT SAYING: "He has had his success in an England shirt when he has batted at three. His game is in good order and he has played really well throughout this season and he does look a different player to the last time he represented England. I know the sort of person he is and I am sure he is determined to show everyone that he is capable to perform well at this level." ELGAR AND ROOT (SOUNDBITE) (English) SOUTH AFRICA CRICKET CAPTAIN DEAN ELGAR SAYING: "I think we generally do play better away from home. I think as a unit when you are away from home you gel a bit better because that is the only people you really have on tour so we do galvanise a bit better away from home and I do think we play our best cricket when our backs are against the wall a little bit. So, it is quite exciting for us." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (English) SOUTH AFRICA CRICKET CAPTAIN DEAN ELGAR SAYING: "I think it is just trying to get those butterflies flying in formation kind of thing. It can still work in your favour. I am pretty sure that he also has butterflies I think it has been a dream of his to also captain England when he was a young boy. So, he will also be nervous I think it is a human nature kind of emotion to feel. It is not a weakness or a strength, I think it is just human nature." ROOT TALKING WITH COACH TREVOR BAYLISS AND MOEEN ALI AND ALASTAIR COOK JAMES ANDERSON (CENTRE) TALKING WITH MARK WOOD, BEN STOKES (TO HIS RIGHT) GARY BALLANCE COOK JOHNNY BAIRSTOW IN THE NETS ROOT AND ASSISTANT COACH PAUL FARBRACE ROOT IN THE NETS ROOT BROAD AND MOEEN ALI STRETCHING PLAYERS RUNNING INCLUDING BROAD, STOKES, WOOD
- Embargoed: 19th July 2017 16:01
- Keywords: Joe Root Dean Elgar England v South Africa test series England cricket
- Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK
- City: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Cricket,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA0016OFVOE7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: England have selected Hampshire spinner Liam Dawson to play in his first test match on home soil when the series against South Africa starts at Lord's on Thursday (July 6), said new captain Joe Root.
The 27-year-old all-rounder made his England debut against India in Chennai last December and joins Worcestershire's Moeen Ali in an England team which will feature two spinners in a Lord's Test for the first time since 1993.
Middlesex seamer Toby Roland-Jones is the player left out of the 12-man squad to accommodate Dawson, a right-handed batsman and left-arm spinner.
The four-match series starts at Lord's on Thursday before the teams meet at Trent Bridge, The Oval and Old Trafford, and South Africa will also have a new man at the helm as regular skipper Faf du Plessis misses the game after his wife gave birth. Opener Dean Elgar will take his place for the first test with Du Plessis expected to return to lead the side at Trent Bridge on July 14. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None