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Regional journalist recalls youth match against new England cricket captain

A regional journalist has recalled playing youth cricket against Joe Root as the new England captain celebrates his maiden victory in charge.

Danny Hall, sports writer at Sheffield daily The Star, played against Root in 2004 in an under-17s match in the city when both were 13 years old.

Root skippered his country in a Test match for the first time against South Africa at Lord’s, in London, scoring 190 in the first innings before England secured a 211 run victory on Sunday.

Lord’s, commonly known as the ‘Home of Cricket’, is a world away from the “shabby, inner-city cricket ground” in Sheffield where Danny first encountered Root in 2004.

Joe Root

In a piece for The Star ahead of the Test, Danny wrote: “As the new boy in the team, I drew the short straw at short midwicket when he rocked on the back foot and smoked a pull shot straight at me. I barely saw it, stuck out an involuntary hand and dropped what would have been a decent scalp in years to come.

“Although I’m sure Joe has been dining out on one of his wickets in that game ever since; when I pulled a rank long-hop of his straight to a fielder, who succeeded where I’d earlier failed and held on to the ball. Just one reason, amongst many, many, that he’s preparing to lead out England tomorrow morning, and I’m writing about it.”

Danny has since covered Root’s rise for The Star, for which he has written since 2008.

He added: “I remember the excitement in his voice when he called me on the way to the airport, ahead of his first tour with the senior England side to India. He made his debut in the last Test, helped England to a historic series win and has barely looked back since.

“I’m often asked if fame, fortune, success and now the captaincy has changed him. Although others are closer to him, and know him better and for longer, I say no.

“In the man of 26, I still see much of the boy at 13; an infectious love of the game and a level-headed humility drilled into him by a respected family including mum Helen, dad Matt and brother Billy, who later came in and smashed us around in that 2004 game on the way to a promising career of his own with Nottinghamshire.

“How proud they’ll all be tomorrow morning. As should the whole of Sheffield. Only 80 men in history have had the honour of being England captain. Ten from Yorkshire. Two from the Steel City.”