Alastair Cook may have suffered a false start to the new season but is already looking ahead to an England future in which he plays under the "next generation" of leaders.
Cook, who resigned as England Test captain two months ago, was due to play his first innings since then, for Essex against Lancashire, when the County Championship begins on Friday, but will now miss that match.
He is focused on taking a shot at another Ashes tour, despite the whitewash defeat England suffered on their last attempt in Australia, under his captaincy.
Cook is mindful that he must continue to merit his inclusion as he focuses on his batting while Root and new vice-captain Ben Stokes take charge.
"It's a very exciting time," he told Sky Sports.
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"It's kind of the next generation of leaders, obviously with Ben as well, pushing that team forward.
"I hope I can score enough runs to justify my place at the top of the order."
Assuming, as history suggests, he achieves that objective, it will be onwards and upwards to next winter's Ashes.
"As players you'd love to get on that plane and be part of an Ashes squad," Cook said.
"I've had some pretty dark moments as a player (in Australia) but also a very special tour in 2010-11, which is repeatable.
"There's no doubt we can win that series.
"Australia at home will be favourites - they're a very hard side to beat at home - but if you look through our team now there's a lot of strength there."
As for his decision to call time on his captaincy, after England's 4-0 series defeat in India, he is in no doubt he got it right.
"I was pretty clear, leaving that tour, that my race was run as captain," he said.
"I felt the team needed a change of voice, a change of direction.
"We lost too many games (in 2016), for the talent we've got in that side.
"When you start those questions nagging, as soon as your mind is not quite on it, it is time to be honest with yourself."
