England aim to salvage Ashes pride

CRICKET: Jonny Bairstow has launched a staunch defence of his captain Joe Root as England seek to salvage pride in Tuesday’s fourth test. England and their Ashes hosts, who have emphatically regained the Ashes by opening up an unassailable 3-0 lead, were back to work in Melbourne yesterday. Asked if the tourists owe their captain two vastly-improved performances in Melbourne and then Sydney, Bairstow said: ‘Absolutely, there’s no question. We don’t just owe him; we owe ourselves as well.’