THING SPECIAL
Root calls the tune as England seal whitewash
JOE ROOT hailed his team’s transformation from ‘one-trick ponies’ into Test thoroughbreds after their whitewash of Sri Lanka.
The skipper led England to a stunning 3-0 series win, just the third away from home in English cricket history.
Their 42-run win in Colombo was built around a final-day assault from his spin kings.
It was fitting that Moeen Ali and Jack Leach should finish the series with 18 wickets apiece as the spin attack claimed 49 out of the home side’s 60 wickets to fall.
Incredibly Ben Stokes managed to take five wickets with his gutsy pace bowling and illustrated his all-round abilities with nine catches and two run outs.
There were four centuries by England players to Sri Lanka’s none, with Keaton Jennings and Ben Foakes both excelling in the field as well.
Root, who skippered the side with flair, said: “It’s been a fabulous tour from start to finish.
“I’m very proud of everything we’ve achieved and the manner from DEAN WILSON in Colombo we’ve done it. The way we’ve played has been exceptional and a great motivator to keep looking to get better and drive each other on.
“As we grow as a team we’ll have different challenges. If we continue to keep getting better that’s the different pressure we’ll have to handle when it comes along.
“It’s about being adaptable and we’ve shown we can do that here, shown we are not a onetrick pony in our own conditions. That should fill us with a lot of confidence.”
Root asked his players to bat with boldness and positivity, promising they wouldn’t be criticised for getting out if they committed to the plan. He was as good as his word.
Root can enjoy his wedding to long-term girlfriend Carrie on Saturday and then head off to the Big Bash safe in the knowledge that, come the West Indies in January, more England success is likely. He added: “It’s been a complete squad effort, whether it’s guys on their first tour in these conditions or the senior players “I felt I was growing into the role of captain very nicely and doing things very differently. Probably radically by some people’s views. “The way we’ve gone about things here has filled me with a great deal of confidence.” The success was summed up perfectly by the key wicket yesterday – Leach’s stunning run out of Kusal Mendis, who had hit 86 and was threatening to take Sri Lanka to an improbable win.
He produced a stunning pick-up and throw as Mendis was attempting to take a second run. Leach said: “I think that was actually the best moment of my career so far!”