Joe Root has backed himself to “bang a hundred” to face England victory in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne and says he expects a reaction from his team after successive Ashes defeats. The England captain never reached three points in Australia, but came close to a nine-wicket loss in the first Test at Brisbane (89), before scoring 62 in Adelaide, when they crashed for 275. As of now, he and David Malan are the only English players to score half-centuries and know they need to convert their good starts into big scores to give the team any hope of getting back in the five-Test series.
“I feel in a really good place with my batting,” Root, who has enjoyed a record-breaking 2021, told English media.
“I believe I can score a century in these conditions in these next three games. I know it’s a brave thing but my conversion rate this year, it’s not an issue.
“I look forward to the feedback from my players and I want to bring home a nice Christmas gift for everyone.”
Root became only the fourth player in history – and since 2008 – to amass 1,600 Test runs in a calendar year during the Adelaide Test, but a first century in Australia did not always hit him.
The visitors have never needed their captain more – they have to beat Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to keep their hopes of winning the series alive.
Malan admitted on Thursday that there was a frank discussion after Adelaide, where England lost the match due to poor bowling and fielding in the first innings, with Root not holding back.
“I will always try to look at things from a level, practical point of view,” said the captain, who has been criticized by the English media for some of his decisions in Australia.
“But I don’t think you can do that after the way we’ve played the last two games. I expect a response from everyone this week. I hope it’s not too late.
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“There’s a lot of motivation for the group and we’re doing everything we can to make sure it’s 2-1 by the time we leave here (Melbourne).”
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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