Root hoping to emulate star skippers

Newly-appointed England skipper Joe Root believes the red-hot form of other international captains proves leadership shouldn't be a burden to his batting.

Australia's Steve Smith consolidated his spot as the world's No.1 Test batsman following a brilliant campaign in India where he chalked up 499 runs and three centuries, albeit in a losing cause.

Quick Single: Smith set to be one of the great captains

Root and Smith have chopped and changed at the top of the Test batting rankings for much of the past two-and-a-half years.

However, the Australian is now the undoubted top dog, clocking up a staggering 12 tons in 24 Tests as captain since first leading the side when deputising for an injured Michael Clarke in late 2014.

New Zealand's Kane Williamson and India's Virat Kohli have also flourished with the bat following their captaincy appointments, and Root, who'll lead England's Ashes campaign in the 2017-18 summer, is confident he can do the same.

"I look at guys in a similar position to me and the number of games they've played; Williamson, Smith and Kohli," Root, who was appointed Test skipper last month, told BBC Five Live.

"They've taken on the captaincy and their games have gone up a level. I like to think that I am in that sort of place in my game.

"I think the responsibility and this position gives me an opportunity to do that."

Smith's batting average of 73.27 in 24 Tests as skipper is the second-highest of any captain to have led in 10 or more Tests, behind only Sir Donald Bradman's mark of 101.51 in 38 innings as captain.

Kohli (59.97 in 26 Tests) and Williamson (59.94 in 13 Tests) also average more as captain than not and Root, who averages 52.80 from 53 Tests, will be hoping to do the same.

The 26-year-old will get his first taste of life as skipper when England host a four-match series against South Africa in July, followed by three Tests against the West Indies.

But he admits he's already thinking about facing Australia later this year when he'll revisit the scene of his lowest moment in an otherwise outstanding career, three years ago.

With the tourists trailing 4-0 and a dressing room riddled with in-fighting involving Kevin Pietersen and other senior players, Root was dropped for the first and only time for the Sydney Test having passed 50 just once in eight visits to the crease.

It proved to be a temporary blip as he led the way in England's Ashes retention 18 months later, but Root said toppling Smith's side away from home is already in his thoughts.

"Beating Australia is the one thing you desperately want to do," he said.

"We've a lot of cricket before we go there. But that has obviously been at the back of my mind since I was offered the captaincy."

The Yorkshireman has closely observed Australia's performances in India but claims it'll mean nothing when the Ashes get underway in Brisbane on November 23.

"I've kept my eye on it and definitely watched how they've gone about things," he said.

"It's very different the cricket played in India to anywhere else but you get a good sense of the side that is going to line up against you."

HIGHEST BATTING AVERAGES AS TEST CAPTAIN
(min 10 Tests as skipper)

• Sir Donald Bradman (AUS) - 101.51 from 24 Tests, 14 centuries
• Steve Smith (AUS) - 73.27 from 24 Tests, 12 centuries
• Kumar Sangakkara (SL) - 69.90 from 15 Tests, 7 centuries
• Virat Kohli (IND) - 59.97 from 26 Tests, 9 centuries
• Kane Williamson (NZ) - 59.94 from 13 Tests, 4 centuries