Root’s winter of discontent
seven in 103 balls, with three minutes of the final hour of this match to go. But play was halted before incoming batsman Trent Boult could even get to the crease.
This result extends England’s winless streak away from home to 13 matches, the worst in their history.
No wonder that places will be up for grabs at the start of the summer, with opener Mark Stoneman – whose drop of Sodhi was one of three chances he put down – the man with most to worry about. Stoneman scored 60 during England’s second innings but he looks to be operating at the limit of his abilities.
James Vince and Dawid Malan also posted half-centuries but they will need big runs at the start of the county season to guarantee their places for the first Test against Pakistan at Lord’s next month.
“You go into the start of the summer and you’ve got to go out and perform,” Christchurch after a miserable winter in Australia and New Zealand. Toothless with the ball in the Ashes – he took just five wickets at an average cost of 115 runs – Moeen, right, also underperformed badly with the bat and faces a fight to regain his place. The only bright spot of a miserable winter has been the emergence this week of left-arm spinner Jack Leach. Only included in the said Root. “Guys who are in the shirt have got to prove to everyone that they’re an international player.
“There are some very talented players who are capable of special things in an England shirt. It’s up to them to prove it at county level.”
Alastair Cook, right, is also struggling for form having hit just 23 runs during this series at an average of 5.75. England’s all-time record runscorer will have two matches for Essex to rediscover his mojo before the two-Test series against Pakistan.
Root, though, insists questions over the former England captain’s future are premature. “If those questions keep coming, he will answer with a big score,” he said. Despite the vulnerabilities over their batting, England’s winter has been characterised by take 20 wickets. James Anderson and Stuart Broad have received little support from the rest of the attack. That is underlined by the fact that the pair have taken 47 wickets in seven Tests at an average of 29.82. All the other bowlers have taken 34 at 72.85. Fast bowler Mark Wood came out of a disappointing comeback with two wickets, while spinner Jack Leach had a promising debut. Yet England cannot hide from the fact they have had a truly awful winter. ENGLAND ODI skipper Eoin Morgan will miss the start of Middlesex’s season because of a fractured thumb. The 31-year-old is set to be sidelined for at least four weeks after he was hit on his left thumb while batting in the nets last week. squad as an injury replacement for Mason Crane, Leach, right, had a composed debut in Christchurch and must now be given a run in the team. their inability to
CHRIS STOCKS’ END-OF-TOUR REPORT CONSIDERS ENGLAND’S WINNERS AND LOSERS DOWN UNDER