Root has faith that England can take their resilience on the road

JOE ROOT has demanded a big reaction from England to level the Test series against New Zealand.

England do not normally have a problem bouncing back from defeat on home soil, having earned victories after eight of their last nine losses in a live series.

But it was back in 2012 and the away series in India when they last managed to do it overseas.

England were crushed by an innings and 65 runs in the first Test against New Zealand. And with the memory of a defeat in Auckland followed by a draw in Christchurch last year still fresh in the mind, it is clear Root’s continued faith in his team is not coming from a place of evidence.

“I’m definitely expecting a response,” Root said ahead of the start of the second Test today. “If you look at this Test team over the last couple of years, when we have been beaten, we’ve generally come back well.

“Granted, it’s usually at home. But there’s no reason why we can’t here. It was pretty straightforward where we got things wrong last game and it made it very clear we need to iron those patches on our game.

“The stuff we did well, we were really good – we’ve just got to do it more and for longer. It’s another opportunity to do that and to learn.

“And for the young guys, for them to learn from the experience and the positions they found themselves in and try and make sure they approach it slightly differently.

“In many ways there’s quite a lot of clarity there for everyone to go through these two days of preparation and put it right straight away.”

England have been boosted by the news that neither Kiwi left-arm quick Trent Boult (side injury) nor medium-pace all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme (abdominal tear) will be fit to play.

And for all the talk of express bowler Lockie Ferguson getting a run out in these games, it looks more likely that Matt Henry will get the nod along with Daryl Mitchell.

England are often loathe to make changes in back-to-back matches but they could do worse than recalling Chris Woakes at the expense of spinner Jack Leach.

If the pitch is as batting friendly as expected then Leach will be a minimal threat, while Woakes offers with ball and bat. Root and Joe Denly are also capable of sending down enough spin when needed.

It is with the bat, though, that England are expecting to see their captain shine after the disappointment at the Bay Oval.

And Root is focused on batting in the same proactive style that characterised the first six years of his Test career.

“I’m not far away,” he said. “I’m feeling really good in practice. I know I played two horrendous shots in the last game. I’m getting myself out and not being got out.

“I’m moving well, I’m hitting the ball well. I’ve just got to keep getting my feet moving and staying busy, and just go about my business the way I have for four or

five years.”