Joe Root learnt his lesson, will stay calm

Joe Root clashed with Angelo Mathews on the last day of the 2014 test:

Root admits that he has learned his lesson and is much calmer today:

He has now gone on to become England’s best player and could make a huge impact this time around

Joe Root will head to his home ground for the first Test next week admitting he regrets his role in the fiery finale to Sri Lanka’s last visit to Headingley.

Root clashed angrily with Angelo Mathews on the last day of the 2014 Test in what became a pivotal moment in an historic Sri Lankan victory that was sealed when they dismissed last man Jimmy Anderson with just one ball remaining. Now the man who has gone on to become England’s best player says he would handle things differently if there is a repeat when Sri Lanka captain Mathews leads his side into the three-match series that starts the season.

There were a few nasty verbals towards me in that match and I just expressed that I wasn’t very happy with that,’ said Root on Friday.

‘It’s part of Test cricket and I probably could have handled that a bit better, but sometimes you need confrontation to get your beans going. It’s part of sport.’

Root insists there will be no hard feelings when England look to avenge that shock 1-0 Sri Lankan series victory. ‘I don’t hold any grudges with anyone who said anything to me then,’ said Root at the launch of this season’s NatWest Twenty20 Blast. ‘They were playing hard Test cricket and there’s been plenty worse situations and scenarios on the field I’ve been involved in than that.‘I think it makes a good spectacle. If you’re watching the game you want to see players passionate about playing for their country.

‘It’s what happened on that occasion and I’m sure this summer there’ll be plenty of feisty incidents. There’s a line you don’t over-step. You have mutual respect for each other and as long as you don’t go too far there’s not an issue.’

Meanwhile newcomer Jake Ball has had an interesting introduction to two senior figures in the England set-up after being called up for the first Test. Ball met coach Trevor Bayliss for the first time at Loughborough on Friday as England began the build-up to Headingley by conducting fitness tests but is not sure the Australian knew who he was.

‘I bumped into Trevor in the corridor in my Notts gear and shook his hand but I don’t think he quite knew who I was,’ said Ball. ‘I passed him, went up and got my England kit and he said ‘it’s Jake, isn’t it?’ It wasn’t how I planned it to go but we then had a nice chat and he told me to carry on what I’ve been doing.

-DailyMail