Root to bat on despite finger injury

ENGLAND has brushed off concerns about Joe Root’s injured finger, saying he will resume his innings on day five of the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney today.

The English skipper was 42 not out at stumps with his side at 4-93 and needing another 210 runs to make Australia bat again.

With Australia surging towards victory Root was the only English batsman to show any resistance late on day four.

However doubt remains about his fitness after he was struck on the hand attempting to pull a Mitchell Starc short ball in the 33rd over of England’s second innings.

Root was hit on his right index finger and was in discomfort as he received treatment from the English medical staff for several minutes on the pitch. England assistant coach Paul Farbrace played down fears Root had broken his finger and declared he would bat on the final day. “I think it’s just sore,” Farbrace said.

“I think regardless of how it is in the morning, he’ll be taking guard first ball, that’s for certain.” Farbrace said Root’s determination to battle through his injury was representative of his fighting qualities.

“He is very determined and although he hasn’t scored the big runs that he’d liked to have scored in this series, the one thing he has done is tried to apply himself and get stuck in and do as well as he’d like to possibly do,” Fabrace said.