Ashes: Joe Root hits back at Ricky Ponting after captaincy slam
JOE ROOT says he is unfazed by Ricky Ponting’s criticism of his leadership style insisting it is important to be authentic rather than putting on a tough-guy act.
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The England skipper, who named one change for the Boxing Day Test handing Tom Curran a debut in place of the injured Craig Overton, was labelled as “soft” by the Australian legend earlier this week.
But Root brushed off the barbs on the eve of the Boxing Day showpiece saying that Ponting neither knows him well enough nor see how he operates in the England dressing room.
“He’s entitled to his opinion, but he doesn’t spend any time in our dressing room. He doesn’t spend much time around the squad. I’m obviously going to disagree with that,” said Root.
“If you ask any of the guys in the camp, any of the coaches and the support staff, they’d back me up as well. I don’t think I go about things as a ‘little boy’, that’s for sure. I have my own way of doing things.
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“It’s important that you don’t try to be something that you are not. I know there are occasions when you have to be strong in front of the whole group. I might not appear to do that out on the field but there are times when I do that and times I have done that.”
Root admitted it was a “close call” between Curran and Mason Crane to make a debut in place of Overton who was ruled out of the fourth Test with a cracked rib.
But he is confident the Surrey fast bowler will bring the same competitive edge to proceedings as Overton.
“Tom offers a lot - he’s a real competitor. Similar work ethic, and the way he goes about things is very similar to Craig,” said the England skipper. “He’s always wanting to get in the contest and you know that he will give everything and he’s skilful.
“He’s a feisty character, and he gets the ball to move around a bit. He’s always in the contest and that stands out. At no point will he hide away from any challenge.
“If times become hard he will give it everything and it’s a great chance for him.
Root added: “It wasn’t an easy decision. Had a little while thinking about it, and weighing up what was the best way to go on this surface and these conditions. But for the balance of the team, Tom was the best option.”
Curran took five wickets and hit an unbeaten 77 in the tour match against Cricket Australia XI in Perth and it is his lower order contribution as much as his bowling which has got him the nod over Crane.
But he will have his work cut out on a MCG wicket that most are predicting will offer little reward to bowlers and plenty to batsmen.
Root said: “It looks slow, and dry towards the back end. The Shield games have been high scoring and batter friendly.
