Root calls on England to be 'good human beings'

Joe Root called on his England players to be "really good role models and human beings" at the start of his second reign as Test captain.

After a summer of turmoil that has left the Test team at a low ebb, England's new era begins with the first Test against Pakistan on Wednesday at Headingley, while Root has returned for a second stint as captain in succeeding Ben Stokes.

Stokes announced his shock international retirement earlier this summer and Brendon McCullum was sacked as Test coach after just two wins in 10 Tests - a run dogged by off-field issues.

"You always want to represent your country in the best possible light," Root, 35, told BBC Sport.

"We might have fallen short of that on a few occasions in the recent past.

"The only thing we can do to rectify that is be really good role models, good human beings and put in really strong performances on the field.

Root, England's greatest batter and a veteran of 166 Tests, said he hoped his "natural persona" is suited to bringing a sense of calm to the men's national team.

Off-field issues dominated last winter's tours, including an incident involving Harry Brook and a nightclub bouncer in Wellington and the team's drinking during a mid-Ashes trip to Noosa , culminating in a heavy 4-1 defeat by Australia.