Root unfazed by lbw run as England captain eyes responsible celebrations

England captain Joe Root has played down concerns over a recent run of lbw dismissals, saying he has always found ways to solve such problems over a long career. Root was speaking after England's series-clinching win over Pakistan at Lord's, where he was dismissed lbw in both innings for scores of four and 24.

Root, 35, has been trapped lbw nine times in his last 12 innings, according to multiple reports. Despite that, he told the BBC: "I've played this game a long time and I've always found ways of solving those problems and working it through. There's a reason why I've got 14,000 runs and a reason why I've played the best part of 15 years at this level."

The right-hander, who has 14,208 Test runs, sits second on the all-time list behind India's Sachin Tendulkar (15,921), and is England's leading Test run-scorer. Root passed fifty only twice during the home summer, and admitted that being dismissed lbw so often is frustrating, while noting that around four of those decisions could have gone either way.

With the Test series against Pakistan secured, Root turned his attention to the manner in which his team celebrates. The build-up to the second Test was overshadowed by the dropping of fast bowler Brydon Carse following an incident outside a nightclub in Derby. Root said he had discussed the matter with his players and stressed the need to celebrate responsibly.

"It's hard to win Test matches, it's hard to win Test series," he said. "Enjoy it and celebrate it, but in a sensible and grown-up way."

England's victory at Lord's marked their first Test series win since 2024, with Root having won his first two Tests since returning to the captaincy. He said he remains focused on ensuring his players enjoy success without distractions from their performances on the field.