Skipper Root can’t blame his players for lack of effort
Joe Root insists his England team cannot be faulted for effort despite losing the Ashes at the earliest opportunity this winter.
England’s attempted Perth rearguard amounted to 218 all out and defeat by an innings and 41 runs after Australia had racked up 662 for nine declared - their highest Ashes total on home soil - on the way to a series-sealing 3-0 scoreline.
While Root’s opposite number Steve Smith was holding back tears of joy in the home dressing room, and England coach Trevor Bayliss found himself defending his position, the Yorkshireman spoke of ‘bitter disappointment’ but unsurprisingly refused to play the blame game with any of his players. His predecessor Alastair Cook and fellow Ashes veteran Stuart Broad are among those who have failed to live up to their billing over the past month.
But Root emphasised the graft put in by one and all, and even wondered aloud whether he himself has perhaps been trying too hard for his own good.
“It’s bitterly disappointing,” he said.
“(But) they tried absolutely everything. It wasn’t for the lack of effort.
“We went through every plan - different fields, bowling straight, hanging it wide, every now and again a bit of bumper warfare.
“It felt like we didn’t leave anything to chance.”