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Joe Root Marked for discussion England They tore down the management structure as “stupid” after the Ashes defeat.
The legendary England batsman also reiterated his players’ “absolute commitment” to the current regime after rallying from 3-0 down to claim a consolation win. Melbourne to relieve the increasing pressure on the group.
Head Coach’s Future Brendan McCallum and managing director Rob Key After handing over the urn in record time on the back of three consecutive defeats, there was little clarity, but the prospect of fending off a whitewash cast a rare positive light on an otherwise dire tour.
First win in 19 Tests stops bleeding AustraliaThey have one more chance to end a damaging trip on a positive note when they travel to Sydney for the New Year’s Test.
But the England and Wales Cricket Board will still be asking what exactly went wrong and what changes need to be made when the dust settles.
Root knows the pressure well, having resigned as captain just months after the 2021-22 series loss 0-4, a tour that also ended the team’s reign Chris Silverwood and Ashley Giles Behind the scenes. He also expressed unwavering support for McCallum and Key.
“As far as the playing team goes, we’re absolutely committed to the management. They’ve been outstanding,” he said.
“So I think it would be foolish to (overlook) the amount of hard work and things that have been done. You look at the group of players that we have, you look at the players that were a part of the team four years ago when I was captain – every single one of them has improved as a player. This team has improved as a team.”
The hierarchy have admitted preparations ahead of the series were not up to par, with Key promising to investigate the team’s drinking habits after reports suggested their breakout in Noosa resembled “Bucks behaviour”.
There may be a greater focus on skills coaching after initial attempts to reduce the size of the team behind the scenes, but Root believes good work must not be given up lightly.
“Obviously, there’s always something to do, there’s something to be done, and yes, we can do better,” he said.
“There are areas where we will continue to work but the management are working very hard. They may do things slightly differently and it may look different to what we are used to as an England team but I think we have come a long way as a team and a big reason for that is the people behind us.
“It’s a very different approach and a different way of doing things, but there’s been considerable progress in terms of how we’ve performed over that period.”
- First Test, Perth: Australia win by 8 weeks
- Second Test, Brisbane: Australia win by 8 weeks
- Third Test, Adelaide: Australia win by 82 runs
- Fourth Test, Melbourne: Eng win by 4 weeks
- Fifth Test, Sydney: January 4-8
While the main goal was to bring the Ashes home, Root ultimately made two notable omissions from his resume. After completing his maiden Test century on Australian soil in Brisbane, he now scored a Test victory in the 18th Test.
“I didn’t want to come here and lose another Ashes series. It’s disappointing that we lost this series but the important thing is that we got the right result here,” he explained.
“It would be even better if we can win next week as well. Every Test match, every time you get the chance to represent your country, it’s a huge privilege, a huge honour. If we can build on this and do it again next time, it will set the right direction for the next tour.”