Joe Root was left shattered as he and his side slumped too another embarrassing Ashes defeat (Photo: @WisdenCricket - Twitter)
England captain Joe Root says that the areas in which the side must improve are “clear as day” as the visitors slumped to a second successive four-nil Ashes defeat in Australia.
After the England bowlers made light work of Australia early on day three, the touring side found themselves with their best chance of winning a test all series when the openers got away to 0-68 chasing 271 runs for victory.
However, yet another familiar batting collapse from England, losing 10/56 to be bowled out for 124.
“It hurts, it was a poor display today especially after the start we had,” Root said.
“I felt we had a real opportunity to go and win this Test match,” he said.
The final day of the series highlighted the perennial struggles that the touring side has faced with the bat this Ashes, with England being unable to surpass 300 in any innings.
“It’s clear and very evident what we need to do, where we need to improve, and the adjustments that need to be made.
“We can’t keep playing our cricket like the way we are, we have to find ways of getting totals on the board which can win you test matches. If we keep getting bowled out for 200 it makes it really hard work.”
This series has seen Root’s position as England captain come under intense public scrutiny with many questioning if he is the right man forward for England.
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However, the 31-year-old has remained confident that he is the right person for the role as the side looks to rebuild after an embarrassing series for England who has now not won an Ashes Test in Australia since 2011.
“I’d love the opportunity to take this team forward and turn things around, at the minute we’re going through a real tough stage as a group of players. I’d love the opportunity to turn things around and for us to start putting in performances that you’d expect from an English Test team which we’ve been lacking.
“I also believe I am the right man to take this team forward, if that decision is taken out of my hands then so be it, but I’d love the opportunity to carry that forward.”
England’s horrific form in red-ball cricket in the last 12 months has left them dwindling in last place in the ICC test Championship with just one win from nine Tests in the current cycle. Leaving much conjecture as to what changes need to be made to bring an English renaissance in cricket’s longest format.
“There are certain things that definitely need to change, we got an opportunity to really prioritise Test cricket off the back off this, make a real significant change to the game.”
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