ROOT: WE MUST BACK IT UP

JOE ROOT has called on his England team to ensure their ‘special’ victory in the first Test is not a one-off as they set about trying to secure the series next week in Pallekele. England have the chance to clinch their first series triumph in Sri Lanka since Nasser Hussain’s team won here in 2000-01. ‘It’s been frustrating but it’s not like we’re the only side that struggles away from home,’ said Root. ‘It makes it even sweeter when you do come to very difficult venues like Galle and manage to win games. ‘It’s very special. Hopefully we can build on this. We can go to Kandy (Pallekele is a suburb of Kandy) with a huge amount of confidence and look to improve.’ Asked whether the first away win of his Test captaincy felt like a springboard for the rest of his time in charge, Root replied: ‘A little bit. But more than that, in these last eight months or so we’ve got a clear plan of how we want to get to being the No 1 side in the world. ‘We’ve grown throughout the summer and this is a step in the right direction. To see so many talented players around is a credit to the hard work of the group.’ First, though, England must decide on their best XI for the second Test, with Jonny Bairstow itching to regain the gloves after injuring his ankle playing football earlier in the tour. That will be easier said than done with his replacement here, debutant Ben Foakes, walking off with the man-ofthe-match award. For Foakes it was a case of absorbing his new status as a Test cricketer, and he diplomatically toed the party line on the subject of Bairstow’s return. ‘If you’d asked me two weeks ago, I was having six months off so to be sat here now is unbelievable. Jonny will be fit, so I guess he’s No 1 and if I play one game I’m quite happy with that one.’ Root, meanwhile, was revelling in the fact that the various decisions will be made from a position of strength. ‘We’ve some difficult selections ahead, which I’m not complaining about,’ he said.