Root calling for big leap of faith
England blast match-fixing claims
ENGLAND captain Joe Root issued an impassioned plea to fans to keep the faith with his team after they were hammered by Pakistan in the opening Test of the summer at Lord’s.
The only problem is that this was a performance so abject, so gutless and inept, that it appears Root’s players have no faith in their own ability or temperament.
Make no mistake, this nine-wicket annihilation was one of the worst home Test performances by England in living memory.
After a winter in which Root’s team were humiliated by Australia and New Zealand, this latest result is an alarming continuation of a worrying trend. It was a seventh defeat in 10 Tests for England and only the third time in 140 years of Test cricket they have been beaten on home soil in May.
Pakistan would have wrapped up victory inside three days but for a 125-run stand between the recalled Jos Buttler and debutant Dom Bess on Saturday.
The tourists still got the job done 32 minutes before lunch on day four yesterday after another collapse – this time England losing their final four second-innings wickets for seven runs in 25 balls – left them chasing a paltry target of 64 to win.
Given the context, it is hard to get on board with Root’s positive words when asked what message he had for disillusioned fans.
“Keep the faith, keep trusting, keep believing,” he said. “We know we are underperforming. It’s very difficult to take as a talented group of players but we believe we can get to where we want to get to. We have to just find a way.”
Just a year into the job, Root’s captaincy is already being questioned. Anything other than victory in the second and final Test of this series at Headingley starting on Friday will increase the pressure.
Changes will surely be made for that match. Mark Stoneman, the out-of-form opener who failed twice here, is in danger of the axe. Nick Gubbins or Keaton Jennings would be the favourites to come in.
Chris Woakes is certain to return, probably in place of Bess as the venue does not favour spin. Moeen Ali could also be in the frame for a recall.
Despite this latest horror performance, Root argued have been accused. I’ve been told to strongly deny the accusations, because it sounds quite ridiculous really.
“As players we’ve got to let the people in charge look after this. It’s for the ICC to sort out and if there’s anything to it, they’ll look into it. But I’ve been told there’s nothing to worry about, and we’ve just got to concentrate on cricket.”
England coach Trevor Bayliss said: “It’s outrageous. I haven’t seen what’s in it [the documentary] so we’ll leave that up to the powers-that-be to deal with.” The ECB also released a denial, chief executive Tom against wholesale changes, saying: “It’s easy to look at this result and say, ‘Right, we need to make drastic changes’. But it’s not just one or two guys – we were collectively all under par. We have to learn the lessons quickly and respond well.
“It would be easy to go into next week feeling sorry for ourselves and think there’s no way forward for us, but absolutely there is.”
Winning in Leeds will be tough, not least because Pakistan were so impressive here. This inexperienced team rose to the occasion, with seamer Mohammad Abbas taking eight wickets in his seventh Test to be named man of the match.
They will take some stopping. Harrison saying: “There is nothing we’ve seen that would make us doubt any of our players in any way.
“The limited information we have been given has been discussed with all the England players [involved in the Chennai Test]. They emphatically deny the allegations, have stated categorically that the claims are false and they have our support.
“Neither the ECB nor the ICC are aware of any credible evidence connecting any England players to any form of corruption.
“The ECB had been aware of the Al Jazeera documentary for some time but have not been given the full content. There have been repeated requests for any evidence and unedited materials to be shared with the ICC so they can fully investigate.
“We are disappointed that Al Jazeera have not been more co-operative and responsible when making such allegations.”
Alex Marshall, the head of the ICC’s anti-corruption unit, said: “We are taking the contents of the programme and the allegations it has made extremely seriously.
“A full investigation led by the ICC anti-corruption unit, working with full co-operation from all member countries identified in the programme, is now under way.”