ROOT EYES ‘SPECIAL’ ASHES TRIUMPH AFTER WINDIES WIN

JOE ROOT (caricature) believes England have the capacity to do “something special” by retaining the Ashes in Australia, after they wrapped up a 2-1 Test series victory against West Indies at Lord’s yesterday. A ninewicket win inside three days at the ‘home of cricket’ meant England had won both of Root’s first two series as captain following a preceding 3-1 home triumph over South Africa. Yesterday’s success was effectively sealed by James Anderson taking his Test-best figures after all-rounder Ben Stokes starred with both ball and bat. Having become the first Englishman and only sixth bowler to reach the milestone of 500 Test wickets on Friday, Anderson went on to record innings figures of seven for 42 in a West Indies total of 177 all out. That left England requiring a mere 107 to win, with an unbroken partnership of 72 between Mark Stoneman and Tom Westley completing a comprehensive victory. This was England’s last Test before they begin the defence of the Ashes in Brisbane in November. A series win in Australia would see star batsman Root join a select group of post-World War II England captains – Len Hutton, Ray Illingworth, Mike Brearley, Mike Gatting and Andrew Strauss – to have led a side to Ashes glory Down Under. “It has been great,” said Root. “We’ve played some really good stuff this summer.”