Ashes 2021-22 1st Test: Australia beating England by 9 wickets in the first Test match in Brisbane has left Joe Root frustrated. England had made their way back in the Test after a remarkable 162-run partnership between Root (89) and Dawid Malan (82) – both of him whom departed in the first thirty minutes of the play on Day 4. Follow Ashes 2021 Live on InsideSport.IN.
Ashes 2021-22 1st Test: Joe Root left ‘frustrated’ after 9-wicket drubbing against Australia
Defeat in the first Ashes Test.
Scorecard: https://t.co/zLz7CV8BKs#Ashes | #AUSvENG pic.twitter.com/Lb5IzHaO7A
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) December 11, 2021
Once the two set batsmen departed, Australia rolled over the other batters including Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes to take a 1-0 lead in the 5-match series. In the post match presentation ceremony, Root has reckoned that his team’s batting unit should have seen off the new ball threat in the initial overs to build onto Friday’s momentum.
Notably, England were bundled out for 147 in the first before Australia scored 425 and took a handy 278-run lead
Massive! Cameron Green strikes!
His second Test wicket is Joe Root! 🔥#Ashes pic.twitter.com/1NqLwZrkXP
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 11, 2021
“Frustration, we worked really hard to get ourselves back in the game last night and we knew how in important it was to try and get through to the new ball unscathed. If we carried that partnership forward we could have given ourselves an opportunity. You saw how the pitch was playing here was sideways movement and the cracks were appearing. It’s a shame we couldn’t get through that initial period,” Root said in the post-match presentation ceremony.
Further, the 30-year-old played down a question regarding the playing combination, suggesting that the idea was to have variation in the attack. Notably, the omission of Stuart Broad from the eleven has been widely questioned. Root blamed team’s dismal batting and fielding effort for the defeat.
“We wanted variation in our attack, to change the pace and move through different gears. Easy with hindsight, but can’t create as many chances as we did and put them down. Similar with the bat, [29-4] is not the way to start a Test series. But we know where we need to improve, and the way we responded in the second innings showed fight which will stand us in good stead. [Leach travails] Jack’s a fine spinner, he’s shown what an instrumental part he can play, and I’m sure he will again.”
In the end, Root appealed to his players to take the positives and come back stronger in the next match in Adelaide – a pink-ball Day-Night Test which is scheduled to kick start from December 16.
“Important in a five-match series not to feel too sorry for ourselves, relish the challenge to go out there and try and get one back. There are good things to take, most importantly the bowling effort. Created chances and felt in the game for a long time. Need to learn from this and come back stronger.”
Ashes 2021-22 1st Test: Joe Root left ‘frustrated’ after 9-wicket drubbing against Australia
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