EVEN THE AUSSIE SAGA WON’T MASK ENGLAND WOES IF WE FAIL AGAIN
So will Root turn to new boys and drop Moeen?
ENGLAND may have chosen a good week to bury the bad news of being bowled out for 58 by New Zealand but they cannot rely on the best Australian soap opera since Neighbours to divert attention from their own dramas any longer.
The 21st and final international match of England’s winter, which starts at 11pm tonight UK time, is now the most important because it is one they simply have to win to stop the growing feeling they are going backwards as a Test team under Trevor Bayliss.
Certainly Joe Root would have hoped for a much better first tour under his captaincy than following up what was always likely to be defeat in the Ashes with another in this two-Test mini-series.
England clearly recognise the seriousness of their situation ahead of the second Test judging by their lengthy and purposeful practice in picturesque Hagley Park yesterday, followed by Root’s long meeting with his bowlers. It was hardly the fault of Jimmy Anderson and company that England’s batsmen failed so miserably in Auckland but the fact remains the bowling unit are finding it virtually impossible to take 20 wickets in an away Test.
They must find a way and, preferably, not one that involves a piece of sandpaper.
‘We just wanted to chat things over and make sure we give ourselves every opportunity to take 20 wickets,’ said Root. ‘The lads have worked very hard here and the talk was something we needed.
‘There was a good response in training and a lot of guys got a lot out of it. There will be another good session and hopefully we can put right what was a really bad week.’
Root and Bayliss have clearly not made their minds up on their best team and the picture is clouded by the uncertainly over whether Ben Stokes can bowl.
England’s talisman operated at around three-quarter pace in the nets but England do not want to risk him turning back soreness into a more serious injury and he looks set to play predominantly as a batsman again. ‘It’s still day to day,’ said Root. ‘He’s had a bowl and we’ll have to see how he pulls up. It’s a tricky one because we don’t want to put too much through it too early with such a big summer coming up.
‘It’s a careful process but it’s being managed well and he’s being mature. Normally he wants to run in and bowl all day and bat for hours, but he’s going about things the right way and given himself the best chance. Hopefully we’ll get some overs out of him but I don’t think we’ll be seeing him run in for 30 a day.’
The absence of Stokes as a fourth seamer always complicates the balance of the side. Root played his cards very close to his chest but, two days out, the best guess was that Mark Wood will return and Liam Livingstone and Jack Leach remained in contention. James Vince only missed the first Test because Stokes couldn’t bowl so he should not be ruled out.
It does seem certain that Moeen Ali, brilliant last summer, will miss out but there was turn here during the one-day international only two and a half weeks ago. England may be reluctant to go in with just the part-time spin of Livingstone, Dawid Malan and the captain himself.
If so, Leach’s chances are enhanced but that would leave a long tail. There is much to ponder.
‘I’d never make changes just to be seen to be doing something,’ insisted Root. ‘I always want to be picking the side which I think can win the game in the given conditions. If it is the case that we should make changes that’s what we’ll do.’
Whoever plays, there can be no easing up on the end to a tour that started in late October.
A defeat or even a draw here would give England their worst run in away Tests of all time and life is not about to get any easier against Pakistan and India this summer, with the next Ashes series only another year away.
‘There’s a natural motivation in coming back from such a poor week,’ added Root. ‘The rain made our defeat in Auckland look a lot better than it was. We did show fight and character on the last day to get as close as we did to the draw but we know we were well off the mark and made it very difficult for our bowlers. We’ve got an opportunity now and it’s about making sure we’re far better than we have been so far on this tour.’
If all else fails they can carry on laughing at Australia.