Ashes: Joe Root insists England won't be whitewashed again
JOE ROOT says England will not be whitewashed again in the Ashes, insisting they can fight back from 2-0 and keep the series alive.
GETTY
The England captain saw his side capitulate tamely on the final day here after working so hard to drag themselves back into the contest, eventually losing by 120 runs.
But Root is adamant the first two results are not a precursor to another drubbing and maintained there was still “a lot of confidence” in his squad going to Perth.
“We are still massively in this series,” said Root. “The way we went about the second innings proved that to everyone.
“The belief in the dressing room is definitely there and I don’t think we are in [the same] situation that we were last time we were here. We are in a much better place than that.”
Asked what he would say to those predicting a third Ashes whitewash in four following 2006-07 and 2013-14, the England skipper said: “I would say I strongly disagree.
“We are playing better cricket this time. I don’t think we are as unevenly matched as we were last time.
England cricket team go paintballing ahead of Ashes
Tue, November 14, 2017The England cricket team have been enjoying themselves paintballing in Townsville ahead of the first Ashes test against Australia
The England cricket team tried their hand at paintballing in Townsville
We are still massively in this series
“Throughout the two games it has ebbed and flowed and we have been in control for periods of the game where I don’t think necessarily that was the case last time around.
“We have to harness those periods and expand them and make them last for long periods of time.”
England are set to name an unchanged side for the third Test in Perth starting next Thursday. But they will ring the changes for the two-day tour match against a Western Australia XI which starts on Saturday.
Coach Trevor Bayliss confirmed players would be given the option of playing if they wanted but only Moeen Ali, who missed earlier tour games with a side strain, will be asked to play.
The tour match gives England a chance to look at the remainder of the squad including Ben Foakes, Tom Curran, Gary Ballance, Mason Crane, George Garton and Jake Ball.
There will also be a run-out for fast bowler Mark Wood among picks from the Lions squad. The Durham man took two wickets and scored 51 from 52 balls in their 50-over defeat to a Western Australia XI yesterday.
“We have to make sure the guys are not just physically rested but mentally too,” said Bayliss.
Australia have called up all-rounder Mitch Marsh in place of fast bowler Chadd Sayers for the third Ashes Test at the WACA. There is a possibility Peter Handscomb may miss out in Perth.
