Joe Root must be a very satisfied man after his side’s three-day demolition of the visiting West Indies in the first Test of the three-match series at Edgbaston.
The attention now has turned to Headingley in Leeds where the second Test will commence on Friday. In preparation, and as now is common with the England squad, football had to make an appearance in training, though it was a little different than normal in this instance.
Former goalkeeper, ex-Leeds and Everton stalwart Nigel Martyn turned up for England’s practice session on Wednesday and was duly put between the sticks for the football game.
One local legend beats another as @root66 slots past former @LUFC and @England keeper @nmartyn25! pic.twitter.com/R1EyAvae0L
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 23, 2017
Root though was not going to miss a chance to put one past the former England goalkeeper and he obliged with a beautiful finish past the diving frame of the 51-year-old.
Root, a Yorkshire legend already, will be proud of getting one past the man who became the first £1m goalkeeper in British football when he moved from Bristol Rovers to Crystal Palace in 1989.
Martyn on his part though, will not be happy by the defending from Root’s England team-mate Jonny Bairstow after he allowed the skipper’s shot to travel between his legs – leaving the goalkeeper no chance.
Martyn did manage to frustrate Root’s men for the majority of the practice.
