I was happy, and to be perfectly honest a little bit hungover, when we went to the airport at Grenada on Sunday morning.
I’d got my first century abroad, and more importantly my first Test win overseas– a really special feeling, up there with anything else I’ve experienced, especially being able to share it with this group of England players.
Thanks for all the kind messages! Support at the ground from @TheBarmyArmy was incredible.
— Joe Root (@joeroot05) April 24, 2015
It’s been quite a torrid winter for us, and we’ve all been trying so hard but not getting the results, so I hope people at home will understand that we wanted to celebrate, in the knowledge we’ve got a few days now before the third Test in Barbados.
There was only one slight problem – everyone’s calling me Geoffrey.
Much as I admire the man I’ve been named after, my fellow Yorkshireman Geoffrey Boycott, I’m not all that keen on being compared to him for my running between the wickets.
I’ve gotAlastair Cook to thank for that. He came up with the name, and he’s probably old enough to remember a few of Geoffrey’s run outs anyway – and as I reminded him, he bats a bit like Boycott did as well.
It does seem a bit unfair when I couldn’t really be blamed for Jimmy Anderson’s run-out, which was the last of the three.
Even Jimmy has admitted he was being a bit dozy, but I can confirm that Lancashire-Yorkshire relations are fine between the two of us.
The reason I was so disappointed when he was out was partly because I initially thought it was my fault, and he was annoyed at me – until I saw the TV pictures.
But also because the two of us were starting to feel a bit like we had at Trent Bridge last year, when we put on 198 for the last wicket against India. This time we had to settle for 33, but those runs still proved handy the way the game worked out.
When we got to the ground and spoke in the dressing room on Saturday morning, I don’t think any of us expected things to happen as quickly as they did. But we knew it was an awkward situation for them to bat in, especially with the new ball coming up and Jimmy and Stuart Broad to take it.
You all know what happened next.
Jimmy was brilliant, with the ball and in the field, but as he’s said himself it still has to be a team effort, with support from the other bowlers and everyone totally committed in the field.
Cooky showed that with his slip catch, and it was great that Moeen Ali chipped in with those three wickets at the end, before Gary Ballance and the captain took us home. What a feeling.
It wasn’t totally new to me, because I’d made my Test debut against India in Nagpur in 2012 when even though we didn’t win the match, the draw meant we won the series. But it had been a fair while since then, with some frustrations and disappointments along the way.
Now the crucial thing is obviously that we make sure it isn’t a one-off, with all the challenges we’ve got coming up.
Everyone in our squad is committed to producing that kind of performance regularly, starting with the third Test in Barbados this week. After a win like that, you can’t wait to get out there and play again.
I know there were a few questions about my back during the match but I don’t think it’s anything to get too worried about.
Bowling isn’t a problem, it’s just that I get in such a crabby little stance when I’m facing the spinners. It’s sore and stiff but it’s not going to stop me playing.
As I said after the game, and people could probably work out for themselves, the key for me going in has been to be busy, to try and play the game at my pace not theirs, even if we’ve lost a couple of wickets.
Obviously it’s not going to work every time and you do have to be flexible but I’m in decent nick at the moment, and although I’ve not been around that long, I know these are the times when you have to be greedy.
I’m really enjoying batting at five, and I feel like I know my role in the team.
One last thing I enjoyed in Grenada was the relationship that’s developing between Ben Stokes and Marlon Samuels.
I must admit I thought it was all quite amusing, especially the salute that Marlon gave to Ben as he left the field.
WATCH: The send-off everyone is talking about as Marlon Samuels salutes @benstokes38: http://t.co/bTTrBA4TBRpic.twitter.com/X9ifnyFjw5
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) April 24, 2015
Obviously there are lines out there that can’t be crossed but that was all good fun – I know that’s Ben’s attitude to it as well. He likes to play the game with character and a smile on his face but competing hard, and accepts that if you live by the sword you die by the sword.
At the moment Ben would admit that Marlon’s one up on him, and for me that makes the series interesting, and it’s something else to look forward to in Barbados.
That’s good for cricket, isn’t it? I’m looking forward to the next instalment.