Exclusive: Exclusive: From Sheffield Collegiate to Test Greatness – How Joe Root’s Early Years Shaped a Legend

Cricket runs in Joe Root's blood. His father, Matt, played at the club level before nurturing his sons. Younger brother Billy won the One Day Cup with Glamorgan in 2021 and 2024, respectively. The sport likely became a topic of discussion around his dining table from the early days.

Taking cues from his father, coaches and all the officials who played a part in his career, Root pushed himself ten notches higher. 

The 35-year-old is currently joint-third with former Australian captain Ricky Ponting in an elite list of most Test hundreds (41), led by Sachin Tendulkar (51) and Jacques Kallis (45). The right-hander scored 24 of these centuries between 2021 and January 2026, the last one at the Sydney Cricket Ground in the fifth Ashes Test, to establish himself as one of the greats.

WHAT MAKES ROOT SO STRONG

Root has been a man of few words in his 163 Test appearances for England. He remains unfazed in high-pressure matches. The batter imbibed the temperament from his senior, Michael Vaughan, at the Sheffield Collegiate Cricket Club, who later became the captain of the England cricket team.

Dave Jones, Chairman of Senior Cricket at Sheffield Collegiate, was all praise for Root's dedication from a young age. The hunger to win handed him the England Test captaincy in 2017. He led in 64 Tests, securing 27 victories, with a win percentage of 42.18, before Ben Stokes took over. 

"Nothing seemed to faze Joe, which, along with a determination to succeed and an outstanding technique, is something he shares with Michael. From an early age, he and Billy would turn up to our games in homemade whites and play from arrival at the ground until dark. His grandfather, Sir Don Root, bowled more overs at them than our entire team bowled in a season put together. I think we all realised very early on that we had two very talented cricketers in our midst," he told SportsBoom.co.uk in an exclusive interaction.

Jones had an inkling that Root would follow Vaughan's footsteps. 

"Having witnessed Vaughan travel the path from Collegiate to England captain, to see Joe arriving at Abbeydale after a full day's cricket for Yorkshire 2nds in time to catch the end of club training sessions suggested he might well follow Michael. Again, he would have the players out there until it was impossible to see the ball," he added.

A BATTER TO A LEGEND

Jones, who observed Root closely since his formative years, is not surprised by his growth. 

"My overriding feeling as Joe continues to break Test Match records is one of admiration. It would appear from the standing ovations Joe received at the Gabba and the SCG that his achievements transcend one of the biggest rivalries in cricket."

"He deserves every accolade which comes his way. Having had the pleasure of knowing his family since his father, Matt, joined the club in 1993, I can testify to the incredible work ethic that Joe possesses," added the stalwart from Sheffield. 

Despite having scored 41 Test hundreds and 13,943 runs, making him the second-highest run-scorer in Test history after Tendulkar's 15,921, he remains humble. 

"Joe would be the first to acknowledge the role of his family in his success. He is still the same Joe who used to sit in the corner of the changing room on rare breaks in the Root Test matches listening to us talk nonsense, soaking it up whilst Billy entertained everyone by playing with their bats," said Jones.

CHARITY WORK FOR CLUB AND HOSPITAL

Even in his busy schedule, which also involves One Day Internationals and domestic duties for Yorkshire, and The Hundred, he is regular at Sheffield. 

"He is a regular at the club when time permits, bringing his son to Friday night cricket. There, he is just another parent enjoying time with his family and socialising when not throwing balls to the young players. When he comes down to watch the senior sides he is always happy to mix with the players on both sides, pose for selfies before sitting down for a chat with grandpa Don (now 90) and the old boys who have been watching Collegiate for years."

"Last September, Joe gave up his time for free to be our Guest of Honour at a dinner to raise funds for the Club and Sheffield Children’s Hospital, one of many occasions he has helped raise funds for the club and the children’s Hospital," added the veteran, who witnessed his maiden Test hundred in Australia at the Ashes. 

"In terms of my own favourite cricketing memory of Joe (apart from our partnership at Norton Oakes in the 3rd team) it would have to be witnessing his first hundred in Australia at the Gabba in the same stand as his parents and several other Collegiate members." 

Jones backed Root to become the highest scorer in Test match history. 

"The hunger and enjoyment are still there so don’t be surprised if he overhauls Kallis and Tendulkar in terms of Test centuries as well as surpassing the latter to become the highest scorer. That would just leave a league title with Collegiate to cap off a richly deserved stellar career. We can dream," he concluded.