Sir Geoffrey Boycott meets Joe Root to talk Ashes, Bazball and bats | Full interview

Key Concepts

• Abbeydale Cricket Club: A cricket ground with a history of excellent hospitality, particularly its hot lunches.
• Joe Root's Early Career: His development as a cricketer, including a period of technical adjustment due to a growth spurt.
• Yorkshire Cricket Lineage: The strong tradition of batsmen from Yorkshire, including Len Hutton, Michael Vaughan, and others.
• The "Chest Protector" Tradition: A symbolic passing down of a protective garment from senior Yorkshire batsmen to emerging players.
• Ashes Tour Strategy: England's approach to the Ashes, focusing on pace, positive batting, and resilience.
• The Reverse Scoop Shot: A modern batting technique discussed in terms of its effectiveness and execution.
• "Bazball" vs. Winning: The debate on whether England's attacking style prioritizes entertainment over victory.
• Mental Fortitude in Australia: Strategies for dealing with crowd pressure and Australian media.

Abbeydale Cricket Club and its Hospitality

The discussion begins with a fond recollection of Abbeydale Cricket Club, highlighting its reputation for providing "best lunches on the circuit." Geoffrey Boycott specifically mentions the quality of hot meals like steak and kidney pie, cottage pie, and Beef Wellington, along with "out of this world" puddings. This hospitality was so appreciated that bowlers would eagerly await the batsmen to finish their meals, often resting like "lions" in the dressing room. This contrasts with Scarborough, which Boycott notes for its cold lunches.

Joe Root's Early Impressions and Technical Development

Geoffrey Boycott recalls first meeting a "tiny" 12-year-old Joe Root in Jersey, where Root was the 12th man due to lost kit. Boycott's wife took pity on him, and they invited him for food at their house with a large heated swimming pool. Boycott observed Root's potential early on, noting his ability in the nets. A significant period in Root's development involved a growth spurt that led to a loss of form. He had to "change his whole technique," specifically his stance and how he addressed the crease, as he kept "falling over" and "over balancing." This technical adjustment took about six months and occurred during his first year as a professional. Root emphasizes the value of this self-coaching experience, stating that the "information that you learn about yourself" is more valuable than any innings for building confidence and developing a method for "self coaching" under pressure. Boycott elaborates on the technical aspect, explaining that as Root grew, his eyes were no longer horizontal, affecting his focus. Adjusting his stance and bat position helped to get his eyes "up on the right level," a "big, big change" that he advises young players to remember: "You must get your eyes, whatever stance you take, whatever guard, you must get your eyes on the same level."

Yorkshire's Batting Lineage and Mentorship

Joe Root acknowledges the "Yorkshire sort of lineage" he grew up with, referencing batsmen like Len Hutton. He also mentions watching Michael Vaughan play for Yorkshire and being part of the academy with players like Anthony McGrath, Matthew Wood, Darren Lehmann, Jonny Bairstow, Adam Lyth, and Gary Ballance. He expresses gratitude for the opportunity to learn from and share ideas with these players. Geoffrey Boycott, on the other hand, recalls his own heroes, including Fred Trueman, whom he saw at a Test match at the age of 10, and Tom Graveney, whom he describes as "elegant" and a "very good player." Boycott had the unique experience of batting with Graveney in 1966 against the West Indies at Lord's, where Graveney scored 90-odd and Boycott made 60-odd. He vividly remembers Graveney's first ball, a short-pitched bouncer from Charlie Griffith that he gloved down the leg side for four.

The "Chest Protector" Tradition

A curious tradition is discussed: the passing down of a "chest protector" from one anointed batsman to the next in the Yorkshire team. The theory suggests it went from Geoffrey Boycott to Martyn Moxon, then to Michael Vaughan, and finally to Joe Root. Boycott clarifies that he only started using a chest protector in the late 1970s when facing the formidable West Indian pace quartet of Holding, Roberts, Garner, and Croft. He explains that these bowlers were accurate and bowled short balls at chest height, making it difficult to keep the ball down and leading to catches in the slips or gully. He devised a protector for his ribs and chest, preferring it to a box protector or helmet, as it allowed him to "let the ball hit it" and avoid playing a risky shot. He passed this on to Martyn Moxon, though he doesn't recall a formal presentation. Michael Vaughan received a thigh pad from Craig White, which he then passed to Joe Root. Root still possesses this thigh pad and humorously mentions that his own chest guard is currently in Jofra Archer's bag, having given it to him for the 2019 Ashes to protect his ribs. Root treasures the protector, stating it gave him "a huge amount of confidence."

England's Ashes Chances and Strategy

Geoffrey Boycott expresses his view on England's Ashes chances, emphasizing the need for Jofra Archer and Mark Wood to stay fit, acknowledging their history of not completing full series. He believes that having at least one of them playing every match is crucial, as "fast bowler is the ace." Pace, he argues, "puts the skids up to certain batsmen," causing them to make "daft shots" or lose their nerve. He suggests a 40% chance of winning away from home is a good one, as "sport, you never know what’s going to happen." He stresses the importance of players bringing their "A-game" and not making excuses.

Joe Root, on his fourth Ashes tour and no longer captain, feels this tour presents England's "best opportunity." He highlights the team's experience and a different approach compared to previous tours. He believes pace is a "huge asset" in Australian conditions and that England has "a lot of good tools that can exploit the conditions." He sees the tour as a chance to "upset the applecart and create something really special" and inspire the next generation, proving England has the "skills and the knowhow to exploit those conditions and beat Australia in their own country."

The Art of Batting and Dealing with Pressure

The conversation shifts to the art of batting and dealing with pressure. Boycott reiterates the importance of "just do your job. Just have a quiet confidence, a conviction." He points out that England has missed opportunities to beat Australia, particularly in the first two Tests of a previous series in England, stating, "We cocked up. Let’s be brutally frank, didn’t we?" He attributes Australia's success to their focus and toughness.

Root addresses the question of his lack of centuries in Australia, stating that his "job is not... this tour is not about me going to Australia and getting a hundred it’s about us going and winning." He acknowledges that scoring hundreds increases the chances of winning and that the challenge is to replicate his consistent scoring in other conditions in Australia. He emphasizes that personal aspirations are secondary to the team's success.

Boycott agrees that targeting the best player is a common strategy for opponents. He defines the art of batting as making "big runs, big contributions" that are "important to winning," whether it's a match-winning 80 in a low-scoring game or a century in a high-scoring one. He stresses that the best player must be an "important figure" and that opponents will try to get them out.

The traditional approach of "batting time" and grinding down bowlers is contrasted with England's current positive, attacking style. Root believes England needs a player to "seal an end" and see off the new ball, but also emphasizes the need for variety and shot-makers. He quotes Mike Brearley, who said the object of batsmen is to "make runs whatever way suits them." Root argues that the key is "how long can you perform in that environment by making good clear judgments for long periods of time," regardless of the scoring rate.

Dealing with Crowd Abuse

The discussion touches on the intense crowd atmosphere in Australia, drawing parallels to the Ryder Cup. Root advises staying at slip and embracing the abuse, seeing it as a compliment and a reminder to focus on the game. He acknowledges it's harder for first-time tourists but stresses the importance of staying "tight as a group" and using the pressure to their advantage. Boycott recalls incidents of crowd interference, like John Snow being "manhandled" on the boundary in 1971. He states that the abuse didn't bother him and he used it as a "spur to play well," focusing on the cricket. He believes the abuse indicates the opposition's worry.

The Reverse Scoop and Modern Batting

Geoffrey Boycott expresses a degree of skepticism about Joe Root's reverse scoop shot, questioning why he "needs it" given his talent. However, he concedes that Root "makes runs with it." He humorously suggests it would have been useful in the Sunday League. Root explains the technique, emphasizing watching the ball, playing late, getting low, keeping eyes level, and using the pace of the ball to help it over the slips. He notes that in Test cricket, it can be a "lower-risk shot" as there are fewer fielders to beat. He likens it to hitting a straight six, just a different method, and states that "it’s only a bad shot if you get out." Boycott playfully suggests he could teach Geoffrey how to play it, to which Root confidently replies, "I think he’d be able to do it straight away."

The Compact Ashes Series and the Nature of Victory

The conversation briefly touches on the compact nature of modern Ashes series compared to the longer tours of the past. Boycott reflects on his own record, having lost only one series in Australia. He describes the feeling of beating Australia as "better than losing" and prioritizes winning over entertainment.

"Bazball" and the Pursuit of Victory

Root acknowledges Brendon McCullum's impact in taking the team to "another level of expressing themselves" and playing "wonderful to watch" cricket. However, he expresses disappointment that despite this attacking style, England hasn't won the Ashes or the World Test Championship. He feels there's a "misconception" and that the team has "missed a trick" by focusing too much on entertainment. He admits there have been games they "should have got over the line," citing the last Test against India where he and Harry Brook were 70 runs short of victory. He takes responsibility for getting out when 30-odd runs were needed, stating, "I should have been the one to do that." He clarifies that the team's approach isn't "gung ho" but has "a lot of method behind what we’re trying to do and reason behind it." The ultimate goal is to make "good decisions for long periods of time" to achieve success.

Conclusion

The discussion highlights the rich history and traditions of English cricket, particularly within Yorkshire. It delves into the technical aspects of batting, the evolution of techniques, and the mental fortitude required for international competition. While acknowledging the excitement of modern attacking cricket, there's a clear emphasis on the ultimate goal of winning, especially in a high-stakes series like the Ashes. The conversation underscores the importance of adaptability, resilience, and strategic thinking in overcoming challenges, whether from opposition bowlers, hostile crowds, or the pressures of a major tournament.