Summary Stuart Broad believes captaincy will take star batsman Joe Root's game to the 'next level'.
LONDON (AFP) - England fast bowler Stuart Broad believes captaincy will take star batsman Joe Root s game to the "next level".
Root was named was named as the successor to Alastair Cook as long ago as February, but Thursday s series opener against South Africa at Lord s will be the Yorkshireman s first match as England Test captain.
Test captaincy appears to have boosted the performances of such leading current batsmen as India s Virat Kohli, Australia s Steve Smith and New Zealand s Kane Williamson, with Broad confident it will inspire Root to greater heights rather be too heavy a burden for the 26-year-old.
"Joe s not had a huge amount of captaincy experience because he played for England from a young age but he s learned the game at the top level," Broad told Sky Sports News at Lord s on Tuesday.
"I think it will take his game to the next level, if he can go any higher. He ll really thrive off the extra responsibility.
"He s an attacking cricketer, quite aggressive in the way he plays, so I think the team will take that sort of shape," added Broad. "He was announced a long time ago and now he has the chance to put things into place."
Meanwhile Broad, a veteran of 102 Tests, insisted he was fully fit for the first of a four-match series against South Africa after his participation was called into question by a foor injury.
However, he played in Nottinghamshire s One-Day Cup final win over Surrey at Lord s last Saturday, bowling none overs with no adverse reaction.
"I got through the Lord s final with no problems and bowled Wednesday and Friday before that with no pain," said Broad.
"I pulled up really well and I ll train again this afternoon and tomorrow, but I feel confident," the 31-year-old son of former England batsman turned match referee Chris Broad, added.
"I ve been playing county cricket since early April, so I ve got quite a lot of red ball and white ball cricket in. It was great to have the intensity of a Lord s final, to play in it but also to put my body to the test."
