Joe Root and Ben Stokes have been friends since childhood, playing together for England 225 times. Root's moving dressing-room tribute to Stokes, who retired from Test cricket, highlighted their bond. Root said, "It's been a hell of a ride mate, I've loved every minute of playing alongside you."
Root and Stokes: A Friendship Forged in Cricket
Root and Stokes played together for Yorkshire and Durham youth teams. Stokes taught Root his first swearword, symbolizing his influence on English cricket. They experienced Ashes victories, World Cup wins, and tough tours of India and Australia. Root noted, "I just wanted to make sure he knew that I had his back."
The Bazball Era
Root fully embraced Stokes' Bazball approach after giving up the captaincy. At Trent Bridge, Root reverse-ramped his second ball for four, a signature Bazball shot. He had previously ramped Scott Boland for six in the 2023 Ashes. Root defended the shot as a percentage option despite criticism after a dismissal in Rajkot.
Root's Role Going Forward
Root is now the only player remaining from the first Bazball Test in 2022. With Cook, Anderson, Broad, and Stokes gone, Root will shepherd new faces while chasing Sachin Tendulkar's record. England's all-time great stands alone among the embers of Bazball.
