Joe Root: “Enjoy it for two years because we’ll be ready for you when you come to England”
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
England Test captain Joe Root acknowledged that his side were outplayed in the recent Ashes series, but sent a warning to Australia ahead of the 2019 series.
Despite being thrashed 4-0 by the Baggy Greens, Root insisted that the scoreline will be a lot different when Australia come to England for the Ashes next year.
“Enjoy it for two years because we’ll be ready for you when you come to England,” Root was quoted as saying by the Daily Express.
On the final day of the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney, Root fought through viral gastroenteritis to make an unbeaten 58.
The 27-year-old had spent the night before in the hospital and batted until the lunch break. However, he did not resume his innings once the second session started. In fact, he did not come out to bat again and was asleep when Australia secured their 4-0 victory.
Reminiscing about that fateful day, Root said: “I fully intended to go back out, but I crashed on the bed and struggled to get off it. It was very tough. I was counting down the minutes to when I could come off and have a break. I was so exhausted. I had not slept for a day and spent all night throwing up.
“It was a sad way to finish the series because it felt like I could not really go out on my own terms. But you just have to take these things on the chin.”
England’s tour was also plagued with numerous off-field issues from Jonny Bairstow headbutting Australia opener Cameron Bancroft to Ben Duckett pouring a drink over James Anderson’s head.
Given the negative attention the incidents brought, Root pointed out that going forward, players who do not fully commit will be shown the door.
“I’ve got time going into the New Zealand series to get myself clear on how I want to move forward, and if the lads aren’t prepared to get onboard with that then we’ve got to go with something different,” he said. “I think I have been battle-hardened and a bit stronger within myself on this trip. Hopefully that’ll show in the coming months.
“It has been made very clear what is acceptable and what is not, and it’s also been made very clear what will happen if that’s not followed. It will not be tolerated anymore.
“You know how to conduct yourself as an England player, and it has been made very clear what happens if you get that wrong. There will be no excuses.
“Because of what happened the external perception was of a team getting lashed up on a jolly boys tour, but that was not the case. Our job moving forward is to gain that trust back, and to show people that that is not what this team is about.”