Joe Root believes England are moving in the right direction after putting a turbulent summer behind them and completing a 3-0 Test-series whitewash against Pakistan.
Root returned to the captaincy after Ben Stokes’ shock retirement in June, stepping back into a leadership role he had previously held for five years.
His comeback came during a period of major upheaval for England, with Stokes’ departure followed by off-field controversy and Brendon McCullum being removed from his red-ball coaching role.
But three comfortable victories over Pakistan at Headingley, Lord’s and Edgbaston – where England won by eight wickets on Saturday – have given Root confidence that England are beginning to regain their stability.
Excellent response
Root admitted the build-up to the series had been anything but straightforward, describing the summer as “very unusual” and accepting that “chaos” was a fair description of the circumstances surrounding the team.
Yet, the veteran batter believes England’s response has been the most important factor.
“I think the way that we’ve responded to that has been excellent,” Root said after scoring an unbeaten 62 in England’s victory at Edgbaston, where they reached 130 for two after losing both openers for ducks.
He also pointed to a growing sense of clarity within the squad, adding: “The fact that there’s now clarity in what is expected of the group moving forward is quite evident.
“We build on that now.”
READ MORE: Premier League analysis: Liverpool frustrated by Fulham at Anfield
Stronger culture
Root knows that changing England’s culture will not happen overnight, particularly after a series of incidents that have raised questions about standards away from the cricket field.
Brydon Carse was removed from the squad after being arrested and later de-arrested outside a Derby nightclub, with the incident remaining under investigation.
For Root, such issues underline the importance of continuing to establish the right standards within the team.
“When you’re trying to build a culture, it doesn’t happen overnight and it doesn’t happen over the course of three or four weeks,” he explained.
“It’s going to take time to keep working at that, living it day in and day out, and that’s something we’ll continue to keep working at.”
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: NFL: September fixtures and start times – Bookies rate LA Rams for Super Bowl LXI glory
Right direction
Despite the setbacks, Root believes England have already made meaningful progress.
Pakistan reduced the hosts to a nervous position during the chase on Saturday, but Root and Jordan Cox (59 not out) remained composed to secure victory.
Root believes experiences such as that can only benefit the team.
“We’ll be better for it, we’ll learn from it and be prepared next time around,” he stated.
“You learn a lot about your team in those kind of situations.”
With Stephen Fleming set to take over as England’s long-term red-ball head coach, another new chapter is about to begin.
Root accepts there is still plenty of work to do, but he believes England now have a clear direction after a summer dominated by uncertainty.
“We’ve just got to keep doing the right things – and if we can align that with playing well and winning series, then everything is heading in the right direction,” he concluded.
READ NEXT: Ka Ying Rising now world’s highest-rated horse after breathtaking return at Sha Tin
Aidan Leo 
SportJustSport writers