Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
THE HUNGER GAMES
Joe says his history-makers now face their biggest test as they travel to face India
JOE ROOT has told his team to stay hungry and demand even more of themselves despite making history in Sri Lanka.
No side had won six Tests in a row on the island, until England captured the Moose Cup with two out of two, while Root has also overseen five consecutive wins away from home in the past 13 months.
When you add a couple of home series wins over the Windies and Pakistan, there is little doubt this team under him is making real progress.
Across a variety of conditions, and with the extra challenges of coronavirus and bio-secure bubbles, a lack of preparation, first-choice players missing at various points and losing the toss in both matches in Galle, this is what one would tell The City is a ‘strong set of results.’
Opener Dom Sibley (left) hit an unbeaten 56 to help seal victory yesterday after the hosts were rushed out for 126 in their second innings.
But with stiffer challenges ahead, such as four Tests in India starting a week on Friday, Root knows he cannot afford to get carried away with the first piece of the 2021 jigsaw slotting into place.
“This is exactly what we wanted,” said the man of the series. “Now the challenge is to replicate that over and over again as a team.
“We have to look at this as a starting position and not be happy with what we’ve achieved.
“There is so much farther this group can go. We have just got to stay hungry. We’ve got four very important games against arguably the best team in the world in their own conditions.
“We’ll have to play right at the top of our game to win but we couldn’t be in a better place to challenge them.”
England’s cause won’t be helped by Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow only playing one Test between them of the next four because of squad rotation.