Joe Root told Sky Sports that England are aiming to stay in this winter’s series, taking inspiration from their Ashes comeback two years ago, and explained why the 2021/22 Corona series has shown how important a break from play is for the team.
England lost 2-0 to Australia after successive eight-wicket defeats in Perth and Brisbane and need a win in Adelaide from Wednesday to keep alive their hopes of winning the trophy overseas for the first time since a 3-1 win under Sir Andrew Strauss in 2010/11.
Ben Stokes’ side lost 2-0 at home to Australia in 2023 to draw 2-2 and would have arguably won the series had rain not hampered their pursuit of victory in the fourth Test in Manchester.
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Take a look back at the hottest moments from the 2023 Ashes series, which ended 2-2.
Stokes said Australia was “no place for weak men” after England’s defeat at the Gabba last weekend and Root, the only visiting batsman to average more than 30 so far in the series after finally scoring his first overseas Ashes ton, insisted the tourists were ready for a fight.
“A win this week will change the whole face of the series,” the 34-year-old told Nasser Hussain at Adelaide Oval.
“I know it was our situation, but the way we played from Headingley (in 2023) was like a completely different team. It’s easy to forget that.
“Conditions may be different, but the game doesn’t change. If anything, it’s more simplified here. We don’t swing as much as England and the pitch doesn’t deteriorate as much.
Root (left) says England have the ability to bounce back in the Ashes series but need to ‘be better for longer’.
“All we have to do is get better for longer periods of time. When we got it right in this series we looked very dangerous but we have to work together for long periods of time.
“This is a place where you have to be tough, resilient and able to withstand pressure for long periods of time and I think this group can certainly do that.
“I’m not sure if (Stokes’ comments) were aimed at individual players, but I think it’s a fair statement. To win here, you have to handle the big moments.
“I think we have a good chance of winning here if we put our best foot forward and learn from our experiences throughout the Tour.
“Being 2-0 down creates bigger chances. Imagine if we get it right, imagine how it will feel.”
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Australian radio station 92.7 Mix FM tracked down the England cricket team as they took a break from sledding on Noosa Beach, led by skipper Ben Stokes in good spirits!
Root reveals the difficulties of the 2021/22 Ashes series.
England enjoyed a pre-planned (and much-maligned in the media) mini-break in Noosa between the second and third Tests.
Root said the squad were now “mentally recharged” for the tough challenges ahead. Australia are likely to get a boost from the return of captain Pat Cummins, who has been out with a back injury since July.
Root was captain when England lost 4-0 in Australia four years ago and was locked down with coronavirus during the pandemic.
He said the “mess” must bring “perspective” to the struggles on the pitch, stressing that England did not want “sympathy” for their current predicament.
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Hussain said England needed to show their character after ‘bowing to the pressure’ during heavy Ashes defeats in Perth and Brisbane
Reflecting on the 2021/22 tour, the Yorkshireman added: “The hardest thing was that it wasn’t the first COVID bubble we were in, it was the last. By that point we had done about 20 tests, which was probably 15 more than the next team. Those guys were wiped out.
“We had four coaches on the field for two weeks and the players were training for the Test match.
“It was a real mess and not what we needed to perform at our best. It shouldn’t have been that way.
“I think it’s important to keep it in perspective because even though it was the times, you could see the wear and tear that the coaches and players had gone through.
‘Sometimes we misunderstand and make mistakes’
“As players, you don’t always get the result right. We are desperate to win every game we play and we are very passionate about playing for England, representing our country and giving our best as often as possible. “It’s not for lack of trying or trying.
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Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton on the Sky Sports Cricket podcast Speaking on the Sky Sports Cricket podcast, Hussain and Michael Atherton discuss how coach Brendon McCullum’s claims for the second Ashes Test could be ‘over-prepared’ and leave supporters reeling.
“Sometimes we are wrong and we make mistakes. This is not a sob story. I am not sitting here holding a little violin and asking people to pity us.
“We know how lucky we are and what we have, but to compete mentally and be on top of your game, you have to be able to switch off and step away from the game.
“I understand there may be some misconceptions about what (going to Noosa) will look like after losing a few games, but ultimately you have to prepare in a way that benefits you and the team and gives you the best chance of winning here.
“The most important part of Test cricket is being mentally prepared. Everyone within that team has what it takes to win a Test match and do an individual standout job to turn the game around. It’s about making sure you’re in the mental space to deliver that.”
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Nasser and Michael Atherton celebrated Root’s century in the pink-ball Brisbane Test.
Root: Australia’s first comeback is ‘anxiety’
Root admitted it was a “relief” to score his maiden Ash hundred in 30 innings in Australia after scoring eight runs without scoring in the series opener in Perth. So what was the key to getting that monkey off your back?
The batsman added: “I think in the first Test I was too obsessed with the bounce and tried to play the wicket squarely, which I think was my death in both innings.
“At Brisbane I tried to get out of the game as much as possible, played as straight as possible and understood that sometimes in those conditions less is more.
“You take as much risk as possible with maximum production and try to replicate that time and time again.”
England will hope they can spark a comeback with a repeat of the route in Adelaide this week.
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