Written by Megan Taylor, sports reporter covering international sports since 2020

Joe Root Ben Stokes friendship has become one of England cricket’s great modern partnerships, and Root’s dressing-room tribute has given Stokes’ farewell an emotional edge after years of shared Ashes battles, World Cup wins and Bazball risk.

Root and Stokes have played together for England 225 times, with their bond stretching back to youth cricket with Yorkshire and Durham. Their careers have crossed through triumph, pressure and public scrutiny, making Root’s words feel like a closing chapter for one era of English cricket.

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Root’s Tribute Hits Home

“It’s been a hell of a ride mate, I’ve loved every minute of playing alongside you,” Root says in the speech. “I’m so grateful I got to spend the journey with you.”

Stokes was visibly moved and awkward in the way players often are when praise arrives in front of teammates. For Root, the message carried years of shared dressing rooms, hard tours and match-winning days.

Bazball’s Final Image

At Trent Bridge, Root gave one last reminder of how much he had bought into Stokes’ England. With England chasing the game in Stokes’ image, Root reverse-ramped his second ball for four, a shot that once again caught the crowd between shock and joy.

Root’s ramp has become one of the clearest pictures of the Bazball years. He had used it against Australia in the 2023 Edgbaston Ashes Test, then saw the same shot spark debate when it failed against India in Rajkot.

“We’ll see,” he replied, a smile curling.

Root Now Stands Alone

Root backed Stokes fully after giving up the England captaincy. That loyalty mattered because Stokes’ leadership asked senior players to trust danger, not hide from it.

“I just wanted to make sure he knew that I had his back,” Root told The Spin of that time. “That I was right in his corner and whatever was asked of me I was ready to do it. The amount of times when we were under pressure I’d throw the ball to Ben or he’d be the one that would stand up in big moments of games. I think it’s my time now is to try and pay that back and be that player for him.”

With Alastair Cook, James Anderson, Stuart Broad and now Stokes gone, Root becomes England’s last remaining all-time great from that group. He will carry the next phase with the same calm that made him the perfect foil for Stokes’ fire.