Joe Root on England targets this summer: I’m not one for numbers, it’s all about winning

Headingley stages the first of the Pakistan games from August 19.

“Win six Test matches,” said Root, when asked if he had any personal goals going into the fixtures.

“Win six Test matches and, you know, as a senior player in that team, make sure you’re affecting the games.

“I’m not one for numbers.

“I feel like if you fall short of them, you’re disappointed, and if you surpass them you’re disappointed because you’ve not set yourself a high enough bar.

“So I think, more than anything, you judge yourself on that.”

Root, 35, has some numbers to aim for in the not-too-distant future.

Sachin Tendulkar’s Test record for one - 15,921, with Root currently on 13,943.

And 20,000 first-class runs as well, with Root having 19,326 to his name at present, swelled by 237 in his three County Championship appearances for the club prior to the first Test against New Zealand from June 4.

As ever, though, the team comes first for him.

“Sometimes, 40 can be a brilliant score in certain contexts or in certain conditions,” he reflected. “Other times, it might not be.

“The way I see it is just play what’s right in front of you and try and affect the game as much as possible.

“I’m just trying to help England have a really successful summer of Test cricket.”

They will be looking, of course, to bounce back from the Ashes, which they lost 4-1 in humbling fashion.

Having never previously scored a hundred in Australia, Root got that monkey off his back with an unbeaten 138 in the second Test in Brisbane and 160 in the final Test in Sydney.

“Looking back, it's nice to have done it, but it would have been nicer if it had affected the games,” he added, with England losing on both occasions.

“Like I said, that’s what you pride yourself on (winning).

“But, in many ways, I didn't need to do that to prove anything to myself.

“I think it was more for other people, and it's just a shame that they weren't in a winning cause.”

Root will welcome back into the fold a familiar face for the first Test at Lord’s against the Kiwis - Matthew Fisher, his former Yorkshire team-mate.

It was under Root that Fisher made his solitary Test appearance against West Indies at Barbados in 2022, and they played against one another in the game just concluded at Headingley, Fisher trapping Root lbw for 44 on his way to first innings figures for Surrey of 4-92.

“Sometimes, a move can be a really good thing for a player,” said Root, with Fisher leaving Yorkshire for Surrey ahead of the 2025 campaign.

“It's been good to see him get some games under his belt and play a bit more consistently.

“He's been very unlucky with injuries throughout his time. To see him playing and enjoying and contributing and being very effective is great, and I’m sure he’ll have a lot of confidence going into it (the Test).

“I remember when he played under my tenure as captain for England, making his debut. He was brilliant, and it was a shame that he wasn't quite fit enough to play the next one.

“I think he's got a huge amount of quality, and I'm really pleased for him.”