“What batsmen like me do for fitness is often a bit different to what bowlers like Jimmy Anderson or Stuart Broad do but everyone in the squad has a big focus on core strength. It is really important for batting, bowling and fielding. You need a strong core and spine so your movement isn't restricted out there.”

English international cricketer, born 1990

Joe Root is an English international cricketer, born in 1990. He plays Tests and ODIs for England, represents Yorkshire in domestic cricket, and has been reappointed captain of the Test side, after first leading it from 2017 to 2022. Root is known as a prolific run-scorer and, by March 2026, had become the leading scorer among active batsmen, England’s highest run-scorer, and the second-highest run-scorer in Test history. He was part of England’s 2019 Cricket World Cup-winning team, where he scored the most runs for England, and he has topped the ICC Test batting rankings ten times.