LET’S GO FOR 5-0!
Root’s dreaming of a whitewash
Joe Root admitted he was dreaming of a 5-0 series win over India after england disposed of the tourists by an innings and 159 runs in the second test at Lord’s.
Root warned his team against complacency after four wickets apiece for Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad helped dismiss India for 130 in their second innings.
But the captain knows he will never have a better chance to complete what would be only england’s second 5-0 whitewash of India — the first was way back in 1959.
He said: ‘that would be the dream, to put
in five complete performances and have five wins. But it’s important we don’t get complacent, arrogant or look too far ahead. We’re playing against the No 1 side in the world and they have some talented players.’ The victory came in the equivalent of less than two days’ playing time against a team whose batsmen look utterly demoralised. Root was full of praise for Chris Woakes, who scored an unbeaten 137 and took four wickets after replacing Ben Stokes. ‘Ben’s absence created an opportunity for Chris to come in and perform,’ he said. ‘He was outstanding, and it’s an example to the guys on the edge of this team.’ Meanwhile, India skipper Virat Kohli faced up to a dreadful week. ‘You can’t come here and think the conditions are too difficult, because they’re really not. ‘I’m not very proud of the way we played. I’m not going to say we didn’t get the best of conditions. The England guys were relentless with the ball and put pressure on so credit has to go to them.’ Kohli said he will be fit for the third Test at Trent Bridge on Saturday. ‘It’s a lower back issue, purely because of the workload and the number of games played in the last few years. I’m confident I’ll be OK in five days’ time.’