Joe Root is aiming high after his England side secured a 3-1 Test series victory over South Africa in Johannesburg yesterday.
The Yorkshire batsman was delighted with England’s recovery from an early 1-0 deficit after losing the Boxing Day Test at Centurion Park. Victories at Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and inside four days – by 191 runs – at the Wanderers followed.
Performances were spread around across the series.
Ben Stokes was named player of the series, but more importantly, young guns Dom Sibley (aged 24) and Ollie Pope (22) both scored their maiden hundreds and Dom Bess (22) claimed a maiden five-wicket haul. Opener Zak Crawley (21) also looked at home. That is a huge reason why captain Root was so ebullient about the future.
“I couldn’t be more proud of the group,” he said. “We’ve been through a lot on this tour (illness in the camp at the start of the tour). To come back from Centurion in the manner we have and to finish it off in style is pleasing.
“We’ve made it very clear how we want to play moving forward, and the guys have bought into that.
“We know it won’t happen overnight, and won’t necessarily be straightforward all the time. But as long as it keeps going on an upward curve, as long as we take our chances when we get them and are always looking to push each other forward and improve, then the sky is the limit for this group.”
