Root could cut out England sledging tomorrow and say this is how we will play from now on. Sadly many players and teams have got it into their heads that sledging is macho and enhances their performances. That is why Root and Trevor Bayliss are reluctant to tell the England team to cut it out in case it inhibits a player's performance. My view was always, get mad at yourself, wind up one of your own bowlers to bowl faster or better, but abusing the opposition is unacceptable. Loading There is too much on-the-field goading and in-your-face foul-mouthed abuse. That sort of intimidatory language would not be accepted in a pub. There would be a fight in no time.

It is getting so bad that in a Test between South Africa and Australia recently, players nearly came to blows. How is that good for cricket's image? If you are comfortable in your own skin and confident in your own cricketing ability, it should not matter what the opposition say or do. You can silence any detractors through your performance, not retaliate with a gob-full of abuse. Score a century, take five wickets and win the match. That is all that matters. We saw in Australia that Root was not frightened to show some ingenuity with unusual field placing, but he was let down by his bowlers. What we need him to do now is show some real leadership and be his own man. Great leaders are not followers of fashion or the norm. They are innovators. Has Root got it in him? Can he be like McCullum? Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video

Root is one of the great batsmen of the world. He is in a position to make a real statement. McCullum is a great man, but was not a great player. Joe is going to be a great player for 10 years. Changing the way England are perceived around the world is his chance to put his stamp on cricket. He could make this England team admired for the way they play the game and the standards they set. This team could be the role models cricket badly needs. You should not care about what the opposition gets up to, just go your own way. The abuse has gone too far. It is time for someone of Joe's stature to say enough is enough. We have to change and play the game the right way. It is one thing to play poor cricket. That happens. You win and you lose. But there is no excuse for the yob culture of drinking in bars or abusing on the field. We want to be looked up to and admired for the standards we set. We want to set standards and not follow other people. Our England players need to redeem themselves after a dreadful Ashes series, the off-field antics of Ben Stokes getting arrested, Jonny Bairstow butting Australian opener Cameron Bancroft and Ben Duckett pouring alcohol over Jimmy Anderson in a bar. This winter, more people were talking about after-hours antics than England's cricket and that is bad for the game. The image - whether deserved or not - of loutish, uncouth behaviour that has gone around the world has to stop. English cricket cannot afford any more of these incidents and bad headlines.

If it happens again, someone should lose their job. Maybe that is the only way to get through to our players and coaches that this winter has been a disaster, on and off the field. Loading The England and Wales Cricket Board has always left discipline to the head coach. Bayliss says he treats the players as adults and does not like to put restrictions on them or have curfews. But if some players act like children, then it is his job to handle them. As coach, he does not have to score any runs or take any wickets. His job is man-management, and discipline is a big part of handling guys. If Trevor is unable to deal with it then Andrew Strauss, the England team director, should step in. If that puts Bayliss's nose out of joint, then too bad. He has not done a good job handling them so far.

The ECB is looking for a new backer of Test cricket to replace Investec, but companies do not like being involved with losing teams or, worst still, an institution that attracts bad publicity. Companies see yob culture as a no-no and avoid it. Image is everything to them and, if the England players do not behave as the role models they are to the younger generation, then companies will run away. Sport should be fun, enjoyable and a healthy game that parents want their children to play. They want good role models and it is time Root made sure England start setting the right example. Telegraph UK