Kiwis out to make dream a nightmare for Root

The Yorkshire batsman said he is loving every minute of his time with England and determined to make the most of the match that starts tomorrow.

However, New Zealand say they want to turn Root’s dream into a nightmare by preying on his nerves and those of county team-mate Jonny Bairstow, who is also playing his first Test at Leeds.

Kiwi pace bowler Neil Wagner admitted they will be “having a few words” with the Yorkshire pair and said of England’s batsmen in general: “you have just got to get them to the point where they really hate you”.

Root was somewhat more careful with his words at his press conference yesterday; England’s players do not use emotive language, unless they are Kevin Pietersen.

Yet the 22-year-old admitted the next few days will be “very special” as he plays in front of his friends and family at the ground where he grew up watching the game.

“I’m really looking forward to playing for England on my home ground,” said Root, as England stepped up preparations for the final match of the series following their 170-run victory at Lord’s.

“I’ve not really had too much time to think about it and I’m just making sure I do everything I can to prepare really well.

“I just want to go out there and enjoy it and to make the most of it.

“I’ve grown up watching cricket here and playing here, and it’s obviously got connections that are quite close to me.”

Root reckons he was “about 10 years old” when he first went to Headingley.

“I came for a trial and I was quite nervous,” he recalled.

“Then I remember coming to watch a Test match here and Sachin Tendulkar was playing, and so was Michael Vaughan.

“In the County Championship, I’ve enjoyed watching people like Darren Lehmann, Anthony McGrath and Jacques Rudolph for Yorkshire – all great players who I’ve always looked up to.

“Now, to have the opportunity to play here in an international game, is really exciting.”

Root struck 40 and 71 at Lord’s, the latter the highest score of the match.

In Pietersen’s ongoing absence with a knee injury, he is set to continue at No 5, although some pundits feel he should be opening the innings in preference to Nick Compton.

“I’m not really thinking about things like that (my position in the batting order) and I just want to play,” added Root, who has enjoyed a fine start to the summer.

“I’ve always dreamed about playing for England and just to get the opportunity wherever it might be is really enjoyable.

“I’ve always done it (opening the batting) as a kid growing up, but I just want to play cricket for England and play the situation in the middle order or wherever; that’s fine with me.

“As a kid, your dream is to play for England, and I just want to keep living the dream and to make the most of it.”

One man determined to ensure Root does not enjoy his first England game at Headingley is Wagner, who believes the Kiwis can pressurise him and Bairstow.

The latter top-scored with 41 in the first innings at Lord’s but could do with a few runs in front of his home crowd, with the Ashes looming fast on the horizon.

“Bairstow does have a bit of that (nerves) at the moment,” said Wagner. “We can obviously thrive on that and try to put a bit of pressure on.

“Root is also pretty young and it definitely plays on the back of your mind (playing on your home ground) if it’s what you’ve dreamed of as a kid.

“As a bowling unit, we’ll definitely be having a couple of words and trying to get underneath the skin a little bit.”

Wagner, who collected four wickets at Lord’s before New Zealand were blown away for 68 in their second innings as Stuart Broad captured 7-44, believes such tactics are part and parcel of the game.

“We do tend to do that, but you’ve got to be careful,” he continued.

“With (Nick) Compton, when we tried to get under his skin a bit, he played quite well and ended up scoring a hundred at Wellington.

“Some players thrive on something like that, other players tend to be more nervous.

“There’s a fine line and you’ve got to make sure you use it to the right sort of player.”

Wagner continued: “It’s more about getting into a guy’s face.

“It’s about irritating them, making them angry, making them look at you and thinking that I really do want to hit this guy for four.

“You have just got to get them to the point where they really hate you.

“When you get to that point, you sometimes make them think about something else in a split-second concentration lapse that could give you a wicket.”

Yorkshire’s Tim Bresnan will be hoping to force his way into the England side, having missed out at Lord’s, while BJ Watling has been ruled out for New Zealand with a knee injury, so captain Brendon McCullum will keep wicket.

Martin Guptil will bat No 6 while left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori, who has flown in as a replacement for Bruce Martin (calf), will be assessed following training today.

Yorkshire’s Gurman Randhawa, Jack Leaning, Jonathan Tattersall and James Wainman will share 12th man duties at the Test.