Root backs England to ‘double down’ on Ashes aggression regardless of loss
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oe Root has backed England’s high-octane fashion of cricket after the crew’s dramatic two-wicket defeat by Australia within the opening Ashes Test, saying that “if anything, we need to double down”.
Root tried to reverse-scoop the primary ball of day 4 when dealing with Pat Cummins and defined the transfer was an opportunity to “lay down a marker”.
He added: “It was to say to everyone in the ground that we are not here to be bowled at, we’re here to push the game on. That’s how we all look at the game now, from any position we feel like we can get somewhere to go on and win.”
In a social media put up after the match, Root captioned a photograph of the England XI with “Love everything about this team”.
England have received 11 of their previous 14 Tests since Ben Stokes took over as captain final 12 months, and Root believes England’s strategies are the easiest way to encourage a brand new era and win video games within the course of.
Root stated: “If I could go back in time, I’d go back and start my captaincy tenure the way Ben has and try to play in a similar manner to how he does it. It’s far more exciting, far more interesting and I think we are getting more out of our team and our individuals.
“We’re playing better cricket to watch, producing better results overall. If anything, we need to double down on how we do it and completely back ourselves.
“That [Ashes] series [of 2005] captured the nation, it did for me as a kid, it made me fall in love with Ashes cricket even more. If we keep playing the way we are, we’ve got an opportunity to do something similar for the next generation.”
Laying down a marker: Joe Root made headlines together with his reverse ramp pictures at Edgbaston
/ Getty ImagesJames Anderson, in the meantime, has closely criticised the Edgbaston pitch, describing it as “kryptonite” for him, and that “if all the pitches are like that, I’m done in the Ashes”.
Anderson had a below-par sport, taking only one wicket for 109 runs, and whereas he acknowledged he was not at his finest as he returned from a groin harm, he argued the wicket did him no favours.
He stated: “There was not much swing, no reverse swing, no seam movement, no bounce and no pace. I’ve tried over the years to hone my skills so I can bowl in any conditions, but everything I tried made no difference.”