WATCH: Joe Root nets in Walsall and receives honorary degree

England cricket ace Joe Root proved a smash hit at the University of Wolverhampton yesterday when he received an honorary doctorate in recognition of his sporting achievements.

Joe Root receives his honorary doctorate from Vice-Chancellor Geoff Layer

The 28-year-old, England’s Test captain and part of this summer’s World Cup winning squad, took part in an afternoon of activities at the university’s Walsall campus.

Root was involved in a training session with school pupils, before formally opening the university’s new £1 million Human Movement Laboratory.

WATCH: Joe Root nets in Walsall

He then discussed the dramatic summer of cricket as part of a sold-out 'audience with' event.

The university sponsors Sheffield Collegiate Cricket Club, where Root’s stellar career started.

While in Walsall, Root told Dom Sibley and the rest of England’s new recruits to embrace the challenge and trust in their ability during the winter tour of New Zealand.

GALLERY: Joe Root meets schoolchildren in the nets

Joe Root in the nets at the University of Wolverhampton's Walsall campus

Joe Root with children from Walsall Cricket Club who joined in the net session

Joe Root with children from Walsall Wood Primary School

Joe Root is shown the motion capture equipment in the new William Penny Brookes building

Warwickshire opener Sibley is one of four players handed a maiden call-up for the two-match series against the Kiwis, which begins next month.

Zak Crawley, Saqib Mahmood and Matt Parkinson were also included in a new-look squad and Test captain Root is eager to see the quartet make the most of their chance.

Joe Root took part in an 'audience with' event

He told the Express & Star: “There is a lot more speculation about your game when you first come into the team. People will be trying to pick your technique apart.

"You have to be strong in your own mind to put that to one side and trust what has got you to this stage, what has served you so well. They have to enjoy it too, soak in as much as they can.”

Sibley scored more than 1,300 runs for the Bears to finish the year as the top scorer in the County Championship.

Root added: “He has scored a lot of heavy, big hundreds and that is exactly what you want from the players.”

Root was last at the university in February 2017 when he visited both the Wolverhampton and Walsall campuses and took part in a Q&A with local cycling legend Hugh Porter.