JOE ROOT is refusing to quit T20 cricket or lessen his workload as he attempts to recapture his magic.
Many believe Root should give up T20s to allow more time to rest, recharge and work on his batting.
But he insists he will continue playing all three formats for England.
That means maintaining his hectic global schedule as Test captain, star one-day performer and building towards two Twenty20 World Cups in the next two years.
There is also the new Hundred competition and maybe some T20 franchise action thrown in to the mix.
Roots vow came as he dropped out of the top ten in the world Test batting rankings for the first time in five years.
He had his least productive match as captain when England lost by an innings and 65 runs in the First Test against New Zealand.
Root scored two and 11 and his average as skipper fell below 40 for the first time.
But the Yorkshire star believes he is on the cusp of a big score ideally in the must-win Second Test which begins in Hamilton tonight.
Extracting runs from Root is Englands biggest priority as he seeks to show leadership is not having a terminal impact on his batting.
Root, 28, said: Regardless of the schedule, I will always keep working on my batting. I love it.
I have no plans to quit any format, I want to keep playing as much as I can.
‘BEST JOB IN THE WORLD’
I know therell be a day when my backs gone or I wake up and physically cant do it any more. So I want to make the most of it when I can.
Im very fortunate to be in the position where I captain England and play for England. Its the best job in the world in so many ways.
Ill always continue working hard regardless of how much time Ive got or how the schedule is.
As well as his recent run drought, Root has been accused of being tactically naive and criticised for dispassionate body language.
But vice-captain Ben Stokes jumped to his defence and insisted: Hes fine, hes Joe Root, hes England captain. Theres no one else to do it.
The pressures of being England Test captain are huge, it can be one of the most criticised jobs in England at times. Sometimes unfairly, Id say.
There are 11 guys on the field it doesnt all fall on the captain. But Joe cops most of it.
He knows he has the backing of everybody in the changing room. Were a very tight-knit group.
Roots determination to continue T20 cricket has nothing to do with money he has always been ignored in the IPL auction, anyway but is all about pride.
He wants to show he can mix it with the best in a format less obviously suited to his skills.
Having arrived here convinced he had eradicated some of the technical glitches that harmed is batting in the summer, Roots disastrous First Test was a shock.
He said: Im not far away, Im feeling really good in practice.
I played two horrendous shots in the last game but at least Im getting myself out rather than being got out.
You can deal with that as long as its not too frequently. Im moving well, hitting the ball well.
Ive just got to keep my feet moving, stay busy and go about my business in the way I have for four or five years.
Weve got to win Test matches and thats my main focus. As a batter, captain, player, thats what matters.
Id take registering a pair here if we won. But Id also take a double hundred and were more likely to win if I do that!
England will consider bringing in leg-spinner Matt Parkinson for a Test debut in place of Jack Leach but are likely to be unchanged.
Left-arm bowler Trent Boult and all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme are both missing for New Zealand because of injury.
New Zealand (likely): Raval, Latham, Williamson (capt), Taylor, Nicholls, Watling (wkt), Mitchell, Santner, Southee, Wagner, Henry.
England (likely): Burns, Sibley, Denly, Root (capt), Stokes, Pope, Buttler (wkt), Curran, Archer, Leach, Broad.
ENGLANDS World Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan has been awarded a testimonial year by Middlesex in 2020.
Morgan, 33, said: Im extremely proud to have been at Middlesex since the age of 16.
