The Yorkshireman inherits a team full of talent, but in need of direction ahead of this year's Ashes...
Consistency
Alastair Cook often cited England’s inconsistency as a problem, but never came close to solving it, so that responsibility is now passed to Root.
England have not won three consecutive Test matches since August 2014, a frustration amplified by the fact that they hadn’t lost three in a row since January 2014 until the recent India tour.
This is not a team plagued by an inability to perform every few weeks, but an inability to perform over a spell of weeks and months.
And Root will look to the success of his side’s batting line-up as the dividing line between the two.
England have capitulated regularly over the last two years, notably against Bangladesh in October when 100-0 became 164 all out, and in the fifth Test against India when they converted 103-0 into just 207.
Moeen Ali has batted in every position from 1-9 in Tests, while Jonny Bairstow has been shifted up and down the order, too. Such unpredictability breeds uncertainty.
England’s new skipper must decide on a top eight and stick with it – then some consistency may follow.
Play the situation
England’s overzealous approach in India only resulted in frustration and disappointment.
In a distinctly un-English manner, the batsmen – encouraged halfway through the series to “hit more boundaries” by the laid-back coach Trevor Bayliss – gave their wickets away far too often.
Repelling India’s bowlers is difficult enough, but Ravi Ashwin and Ravi Jadeja could simply string a few consistent overs together and know that the rash shot was coming.
The visitors struggled to find the gear between block and slog when rotating the strike and manipulating the field – still scoring quickly in the process – was the order of the day.
Considering that regular rebuilds were therefore needed, it only adversely affected their run-rates anyway.
Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler, two of a few culprits, are aggressive batsmen, but their approach can leave England with a soft underbelly when it goes wrong.
Root must not usher his side into their shell, but their just-go-out-and-express-yourselves-lads manner must feature a modicum of responsibility.
Use help
Alastair Cook’s primary piece of instruction for his predecessor?
“Use advice and be open to it. There are a lot of great people out there who watch a lot of cricket.”
Cook, speaking from experience, is one of Root’s potential lieutenants, as is new vice-captain, and close of friend of Root’s, Ben Stokes.
Indeed, the Yorkshireman is lucky to have so much experience around him.
Since the shake-up to the Test side in 2014, Cook – as captain – has been England’s most experienced player, with the temptation to go it alone prevalent.
Root, though, has his predecessor, Jimmy Anderson, Stuart Broad and many other contemporaries to lean on.
His naturally outgoing personality should prevent from insularity, but Root must use the fortunate circumstances to his advantage, particularly with his lack of first-class leadership experience.
Back his spinner
The wounds caused by Graeme Swann’s Test retirement more than three years ago have only widened further after another winter of subcontinent torture.
But this, for a while, need not be Root’s problem.
England don’t travel to that part of the world until Sri Lanka host them in late 2018, with series in the interim likely to be decided by pace rather than spin.
For now, then, Root must further pledge his support behind Moeen Ali.
The 29-year-old has taken 52 wickets at an average of 40.5 in home Tests – not great. But his strike rate of 59.9 does better that of Chris Woakes, Ben Stokes, Steven Finn and Mark Wood.
And now that Moeen’s role will be just supportive to the vast cast of seamers, Root must back him rather than be tempted to fiddle.
The Worcestershire man averages 46.6 with the bat in the last 12 months, and his all-round package will not be bettered in this period of matches in which high-class spin should not be a deciding factor.
Look after himself
In some senses, this has not come at the best time for Root.
The 26-year-old became a father for the first time just a month ago, while his batting in the recent T20-series defeat in India drew criticism.
And while he is England’s golden boy in all three formats, there must be concerns that an enormous workload could weigh him down.
Comparisons to batsmen of his ilk, admittedly, suggest that Root can use his promotion to his advantage.
Virat Kohli averages a whopping 63.5 as India’s skipper, while Australia’s Steve Smith and New Zealand’s Kane Williamson have excelled in leadership roles, too.
Root – who will surely receive semi-regular rests from one-day tours in order to remain fresh – must follow their lead by converting more of his 50s into big hundreds.
It is bizarre that a player as diligent and driven and Root so regularly fails to reach three figures after encouraging starts.
More importantly, though, England must hope that they have not broken their once-in-a-generation find.
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