Root using Vaughan as the obvious role model

The 21-year-old’s style has already been compared by many to that of the former England captain – and Root is not complaining.

Vaughan progressed to Yorkshire and England from the same club as Root, Sheffield Collegiate.

And Root, who made an unbeaten hundred from No 3 in England Lions’ series-clinching win against Sri Lanka A in Colombo this week, would be happy to even get part way along the road to achieving what Vaughan was able to in a distinguished career.

“He was definitely a role model, growing up,” said Root,

“I always looked up to him, so it’s nice to resemble such a fantastic player.

“If I can achieve half what he achieved in the game, then I’d be very happy.”

Along with a number of others, Root has impressed with his performances for the Lions and faces the full England team in a warm-up match at the Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, which started earlier this morning.

His Lions team-mate, Craig Kieswetter, will make the leap to senior level for the one-day series against Pakistan as England look to atone for their dismal efforts in a 3-0 Test Series defeat.

And the wicketkeeper-batsman is confident he can rise to the new challenge England have set him in one-day international cricket of filling the middle order.

“It’s a new role for me, but when I first started playing professional cricket for Somerset I batted in the middle order,” said Kieswetter, who identifies his new position as one that could be pivotal to England’s 50-over fortunes up to the 2015 World Cup.

“Any chance you get to perform in front of Andy Flower and the selectors is a great opportunity.

“Obviously, it’s a great challenge (for the Lions) to take on the ODI side and prove a point to them as well.

“We’re a pretty solid one-day side and we are improving.”