Root won't 'rip up' Bazball blueprint as Babar is ruled out for Pakistan

Joe Root's second stint as England Test skipper begins with three-match series against Pakistan; visiting captain Babar Azam ruled out of first Test with finger injury; watch first Test from Headingley, live on Sky Sports Cricket from 10am, Wednesday (first ball 11am)

Returning England Test skipper Joe Root says he feels "as ready as any other England captain", adding he has no plans on "ripping up" the Bazball blueprint that preceded his second stint in charge.

Root has captained England on a record 65 occasions, his first permanent spell from 2017 to 2022 ending with a run of just one win in 17 Tests before Ben Stokes took over in step with head coach Brendon McCullum.

But, after an impressive first couple of years to the Bazball era, the 2-1 series defeat to New Zealand earlier this summer saw Stokes retire from international cricket during the final Test and subsequently prompted McCullum's removal as red-ball head coach.

"I don't think there's a huge amount we need to change. It's small things that will make a big difference," Root said ahead of the three-Test series against Pakistan, which starts on Wednesday at Headingley - live on Sky Sports Cricket , from 10am (first ball 11am).

"It's not about ripping it up, I think it's about keeping a lot of the good stuff we've been doing for a period of time, stuff that Ben and Baz built for a long while.

"I don't believe there is one way of playing Test cricket. You've got to be adaptable and play the situation. It's never the same throughout five days, there's different challenges and you've got to adjust to the ebbs and flows throughout."

As for his own readiness to return to the captaincy, the 35-year-old made it clear he was fully prepared to embrace the challenge one more time.

"The landscape is different," he said. "I'm a different player and person than I was when I [first] took over as captain.

"I'm in a very fortunate, unique position where I've got 60-odd games of experience to look back on. There are things I might want to change and do slightly differently.

"I had time to step away, play in a different environment, under a different coach, different captain, and see the game from a different lens.

"In many ways I feel as ready as any other England captain that's been before; to have that amount of experience is invaluable."

He added: "I'm really excited. And to get the chance to start at Headingley as well is always nice, my home ground.

"It's a very talented group of players that are very capable of special things. I'm really excited about where we can take this team."