Edgbaston, June 9: Joe Root is hoping England's Test team respond positively amid scrutiny of their behaviour, with the ECB currently investigating several players for historic social media posts.
Ollie Robinson's Test debut at Lord's last week was marred when offensive Twitter posts by the paceman – posted in 2012 and 2013 – were highlighted.
The 27-year-old had an impressive debut on the field in the series-opening draw with New Zealand, but is now suspended while the ECB conduct an investigation.
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It has subsequently been reported that posts from several England players across the Test and one-day set-ups are also being looked into.
However, Root is now hoping for a full switch of focus back to the matter at hand, which is England attempting to clinch a series win over the Black Caps at Edgbaston.
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"We want to move forward in a really positive way," Root told BBC Sport.
"We've had to face up to some ugly truths this past week or so and there will be challenges moving forward.
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"But the group of players we have now is very much committed to moving the game forward, to making it a better place, making it more inclusive and educating ourselves further.
"We're going to have to front up to what has happened, but ultimately we want to move forward in a really positive way, to keep going on this journey we've started of trying to better our sport.
"We will continue to do that because that's how we all feel."
A near-capacity crowd of 17,000 will be allowed at Edgbaston as coronavirus restrictions are relaxed, and Root is aiming to put on a show for the spectators, after his team received some criticism for holding out for a draw on the final day at Lord's, rather than attempt to mount a 273-run chase.
"We're all very aware we're in the entertainment business," Root, who wants to dispel any notion of his team being negative, told reporters.
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"We all want to be part of those games, those special games that provide that entertainment. They're the ones that you remember.
"The ones that stick in my mind are the World Cup final, Headingley, Cape Town – the ones that go to the wire, they're the ones you remember as a player, and want to have big contributions in.
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"I look at the situation we found ourselves in and I still feel we made the right decision [at Lord's]. We've turned up here with an opportunity to win the series, albeit it is not part of the Test championship, but it is a Test match and that means a hell of a lot to the players and the group.
"We're very keen to put in five days of strong cricket this week and win the series. If the opportunities arise, we'll definitely look to be aggressive.
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"I don't want us to be considered a negative team who play a boring brand of cricket.
"We have some very exciting players who are capable of some wonderful passages of cricket and hopefully that will come to light this week."