Joe Root dismisses concerns that England captaincy is affecting his batting
Skipper Joe Root has dismissed suggestions that captaincy is currently impacting his batting ahead of England’s bid to level the Ashes series.
Root, 28, averages 30.87 in the series before the fifth and final Test and has yet to score a hundred, even while compared former Australia captain Steve Smith has chalked up 671 runs at 134.20.
Before he took over from Alastair Cook in February 2017, Root uttered 52.80 with the bat, but that figure has fallen to 40.90 since – a duck in each of the last three Ashes Tests leading to a 2-1 series deficit.
But when asked by Sky Sports if he believes the captaincy impacts his batting, Root said:”No. It’s been a difficult season for batting on either side. Needless to say, I’ve not performed because I’d have liked but that is part and parcel of Test cricket.
“You have got to keep trying to discover ways of counter-acting hard passages of drama and decent bowling. I will keep trying to work on this and try to improve my game.”
Out-going head coach Trevor Bayliss defended Root’s captaincy on Wednesday, stating:”He’s not encounter question from anyone making any decisions. He is under no pressure in any way.”
Root stressed that he is focussed on attempting to procure a series-levelling win against Australia before embarking upon which he expects will be successful winter tours of New Zealand and South Africa.
He said:”With regards to my own captaincy, I understand the direction I wish to take this team forward in and it is all about starting that today rather than after this series – attempting to be certain that we utilize this as a stepping stone; win this match and then have a really strong winter and move ahead as a team.”
Australia go using retained the Ashes and captain Tim Paine says that his side don’t have any intention of having a string win – that the tourists calling up Mitchell Marsh for Travis Head.
England have made 2 modifications in their own with Chris Woakes and all-rounders Sam Curran returning in the cost of seamer Craig Overton and opener Jason Roy, also Root states the hosts are determined to end the summer on a winning note.
“We have not lost anything yet,” he explained. “Obviously, we are not able to win the Ashes back but we are fully focused on making sure that we do all we can to finish the series 2-2.
“We have got a chance to level this series and make it marginally better as it appears right now. That’s the full attention of this group so we have got to make sure that we win this match.
“And there’s the Evaluation Championship points to play for as well, which down the line can make a huge difference, so there’s a lot to play for.”
View the fifth and final Ashes Test live on Sky Sports The Ashes from 10am on Thursday and follow along over-by-over commentary and in-play clips on skysports.com along with the Sky Sports App.
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