ROOT’S BAGGY GREEN (or pink!) WITH ENVY FOR SMITH

Skipper admits he’s jealous of his rival’s big runs at big moments and is ready to put that right in Sydney finale

JOE ROOT has admitted to making envious glances at Steve Smith as the Australia skipper delivered the perfect Ashes performance. Smith is a shoo-in for the Compton-Miller medal for man of the series after scoring 604 runs at an average of 151 going into the fifth Test. And his England counterpart has looked on with a tinge of the greeneyed monster. Both are their team’s best batsman, but whereas Smith has been relentless in his hunger for runs, Root has come up short too often and is yet to register a ton Down Under. He knows if he can change that statistic it will go some way to salvaging pride, with England 3-0 down and the series already lost. As he prepared for the final Test starting tonight in Sydney, Root admitted to being frustrated with his form. “I’m disappointed,” he said. “To not go on and make those big scores that, as a senior player you pride yourself on doing in big series, and which I have done in the past, is disappointing. “If anything you see what Smith has done and you want to be the one doing it. “He’s been the difference between the teams. Take his runs out of it and we’ve been there or thereabouts to win. “So credit to the way he’s gone about it. He’s played exceptionally well. It’s a lesson on leading from the front and how he’s played different types of innings at different periods of games. “It’s really important we get a win. It would mean a lot to me to give a fairer account of how we’ve gone about this trip. We’ve worked really hard and have played some really good cricket.” It will take a huge effort to get past Australia in the annual Pink Test supporting the McGrath Foundation – particularly with Mitchell Starc fit again and ready to terrorise England with his 90mph-plus bowling on his home ground. A bruised heel sidelined Starc for the fourth Test at the MCG, and in his absence England registered their highest score of the series. Mason Crane is in line for his England Test debut in place of Moeen Ali or Chris Woakes, while Mark Stoneman, James Vince and Root have a last chance to get three figures out here. Root reckons a win in Sydney with big performances will go a long way to helping shape his team over the next four years before what he hopes will be another chance to lead Down Under. “Of course I want to be captain next time,” he added. “It’s been a long trip with stuff that you don’t want to have to deal with on occasion as a captain, but I think I’ve gained a lot from that. “It’s paramount we win this game, that we can build on that for four years’ time. It’s about building a team that will be successful. We owe it to ourselves as a team, and everyone at home – playing cricket that’s enjoyable to watch but also where England win.”