Joe Root has urged England not to dwell on the past as they enter his second spell as Test captain.Root, 35, takes charge of his 66th Test against Pakistan at his home ground of Headingley on Wednesday following a tumultuous nine-month period including a bevy of boozy incidents, off-field investigations, Ashes humiliation, the retirement of Ben Stokes and removal of Brendon McCullum as all-format coach.‘Ultimately, it’s about looking after the here and now. Getting too caught up in what’s gone before is not necessarily going to help us,’ Root said.‘What do we need right now? What’s going to get the best out of this group and what does it take to evolve us to where we want to get to? If we’re good enough to work that through and skilful enough to execute that then we’ll get there.’Nevertheless, in attempting to win a first series since 2024, Root’s forward-thinking policy will be laced with elements of the Bazball era. ‘It’s not about ripping it up,’ he insisted.‘Small adjustments in-game will make a big difference. I don’t believe there is one way of playing Test cricket. I think you’ve got to be adaptable, you’ve got to play the situation and the different tempos of the game. It’s never the same throughout the five days.’One change that Root is implementing regards his fielding position, copying predecessor Stokes by moving to mid-off, from where it will be easier to communicate with his bowlers. Either Ben Duckett or Jordan Cox will replace him at first slip. Joe Root will move from his position at first slip to be closer to his bowlersEssex’s Cox – who made his debut against New Zealand at No 7 earlier this summer, but is now at three instead of the injured Jacob Bethell – reminded everyone of his all-round versatility by embarking on a lengthy wicketkeeping session during Tuesday’s practice.Dan Lawrence is replacing Stokes in the all-rounder role, with Root insisting a player with five County Championship hundreds this season is an ‘under-rated’ off-spinner.However, in a break with the previous regime’s tendency to make team announcements 24-48 hours in advance, England will not name their full XI until the toss.Root will be joined in the middle in Leeds by Salman Ali Agha, after Pakistan captain Babar Azam was ruled out until the second Test at Lord’s with a bruised right middle finger.Incoming Test coach Stephen Fleming does not arrive until next month, but Root says he has been in almost daily contact with the New Zealander as they plot to extend a winless sequence in Test cricket here for Pakistan stretching 30 years.On the ground, Root will work with Marcus Trescothick, interim coach for the three-match series, and fellow Yorkshireman Harry Brook, who retains the England vice-captain position he held under Stokes.Dismissing any semblance of awkwardness after Brook made a public pitch to add the Test captaincy to his white-ball duties post-Stokes, he said: ‘Our relationship’s exactly as it has been for a long time. Me and Harry are very good friends.‘I just want Harry to be authentic. If he’s comfortable in his own skin then I think England’s in a good place.’