ROOT: I CAN’T COMMIT TO ASHES TRIP YET
ENGLAND captain Joe Root is unable to say whether he will play in this winter’s Ashes, despite knowing it could be his last chance to win the urn in Australia.
Root and his team-mates are still in the dark about the exact conditions of entry into Australia and those with young families are wavering about travelling due to the tough Covid restrictions they could face. England’s players could be presented with specific details in the next few days but until then Root, who himself has two children aged under five with wife Carrie, will not commit to the trip.
The 30-year-old, named the Professional Cricketers’ Association men’s player of the year yesterday, said: ‘I feel it’s so hard to make a definite decision until you know [the details]. It’s a little bit frustrating but it’s where we are at. From a player’s point of view we just want to know what the position is and then we can make decisions.
‘Of course it’s been a discussion point throughout the whole summer, it’s a big deal for all of us. That’s why it’s so important we get all the information.
‘I’m desperate to be part of an Ashes series, I always am, it’s that one series as an England player you want to be involved in and that will never change. The position I’m at in my career, it could be the last opportunity I get to go, so of course it’s something you’re desperate to do, desperate to hopefully make history.
‘It’s really important everyone makes a decision they’re comfortable with. We just have to be patient, we just have to wait until we know what’s happening and then make a decision.’