Joe Root Clears That No England Player Is Bound To Accompany The Team On The Sri Lanka Tour

England Test captain Joe Root would head for probably two of the most challenging tours in the recent months. A year that will have England geared up for an away Ashes series starts with Test tours to Sri Lanka and India to play six Tests. And bearing in mind the bio-secure bubble, Joe Root has offered the players the liberty to quit the visits if not in the right place mentally.

The bio-secure bubble has indeed weighed heavily on the players from all countries. The English team that will visit Sri Lanka and India moving forward will carry a psychologist with them for the first time. England’s two-Test series in Sri Lanka begins from the 14th of January and the tourists have to spend their time in a two-week bubble in Hambantota ahead of that. The tour to India consists of four Tests, five T20Is, and three ODIs.

Joe Root conceded that the entire team would have an extra layer of support in terms of a psychologist, available at all times to speak to them. The 30-year old reminded the players that they are entitled to get out if at any stage it becomes too much to handle. Root offered to the players the freedom to speak up if they don’t feel in the right place to represent their country.

“There’s going to be a little bit of extra support for the players in terms of a psychologist on the ground at all times making sure there’s someone to speak to. Everyone is very aware that if at any stage it becomes too much they are entitled to get out and that’s an important thing to remember. It’s important they can say if they don’t feel they’re in the right place physically or mentally to go out and represent their country,” Root stated as quoted by Times of India.

It’s a huge part of the role anyway: Joe Root

The Yorkshire-born cricketer understands that as a captain, he has to ensure that people feel comfortable in the environment to be able to perform well enough and believes that players hold the accountability to speak up as well. Root highlighted that his role in ensuring making people relaxed has become further significant in times like these.

“As players, you have a responsibility to speak up, not just use the staff but the other guys around you as well. As a captain that’s a big part of my role to make sure people are comfortable in the environment, in a position to be at the top of their game and play Test cricket to the best of their ability. It’s a huge part of the role anyway, but it’s certainly heightened more in times like these,” he added.

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