Worst in history tag awaits Root
JOE ROOT and his players need to find an immediate cure for the travel sickness that has left them on the brink of becoming England’s worst Test side away from home.
The current overseas winless run of 12 matches is the longest for England since the Second World War.
And failure to register a series-levelling victory in the second and final Test against New Zealand that starts in Christchurch tonight will see this group of players claim an unwanted slice of history.
The defeat in Auckland on Monday was the fifth time in eight overseas Tests England have lost by an innings. That match was gone in the first 94 minutes after the tourists were embarrassingly routed for 58 inside the first session.
It was a new low during a wretched winter in which England were hammered 4-0 by Australia in the Ashes.
“You go into anyone’s home conditions these days and it is becoming more and more difficult to win,” said Root.
“What was really disappointing with that surface last week was that it
ENGLAND’S TRAVEL SICKNESS Since the start of 2016, Trevor Bayliss has led his team into 16 away Tests and won just twice. Five of the defeats have been by an innings. 2 wins, 6 losses, 2 draws
wasn’t dissimilar to playing in England.
“As a batting group, that wasn’t good enough. We have plenty of experience in those conditions and it’s something we’ve come up against time and time again.
“It’s definitely not for a lack of trying. The guys are working hard and we are asking ourselves questions about whether we need to do things differently.”
The only positive for England is the fact they are not Australia, who have been outed as cheats during their series in South Africa.
The fall-out from the balltampering scandal that has rocked cricket completely overshadowed England’s dismal performance in Auckland.
“You know there’s going to be a microscope on those games and how you conduct yourself as a player,” said Root. “What’s happened in South Africa shouldn’t really affect how we go about things.
“Cricket has had a lot of airtime in terms of bad press and what has
3 losses, 1 draw
happened there. But for me it’s about getting the result we need to finish off a long winter and take us into the summer with pride and momentum.”
England left for Australia to take part in these back-tosuch back tours on October 28 last year, and must now summon up one last effort to win this Test in Christchurch.
“There is a natural motivation to come back from a poor week,” said Root.
“We did show a lot of fight and courage on that last day in Auckland to get as close as we did to the draw, but we know we were way off the mark in that first innings. We’ve got an opportunity now in a completely new game, new venue, different conditions, to make sure we’re far better than we have been so far.”
Moeen Ali looks certain to pay for a poor winter by being dropped for Lancashire’s Liam Livingstone.
“It has been a struggle for Mo,” said Root. “He’s definitely got the game to turn things around but it’s making sure he keeps believing in all the good stuff he’s done in the past.”
Yet Root’s reply when asked if Moeen will play in Christchurch was hardly a ringing endorsement, the skipper simply saying: “We’ll have to wait and see.”
Fast bowler Mark Wood is also likely to play his first Test of the winter, probably replacing Craig Overton.
But it appears England will play safe with Ben Stokes’ back injury, using the all-rounder as a specialist batsman once again. “It’s always a tricky one,” said Root. “With such a big summer coming up it’s really important we err on the side of caution with him and make sure we don’t lose him for a long period of time.
“I don’t think we’ll see him running in for 30 overs a day but hopefully we’ll be able to get some overs out of him.”
New Zealand, meanwhile, are likely to make just one change to their team from Auckland, with spinner Ish Sodhi coming in for Todd Astle, who has a side strain.
It is not for a lack of trying
Probable teams Second Test, Christchurch
New Zealand:
Tom Latham, Jeet Raval, Kane Williamson (capt), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling (wkt), Colin De Grandhomme, Neil Wagner, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Trent Boult.
England:
Alastair Cook, Mark Stoneman, Joe Root (capt), Dawid Malan, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow (wkt), Liam Livingstone, Chris Woakes, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Mark Wood. Umpires: Marais Erasmus (SA), Bruce Oxenford (Aus) Third umpire: Paul Reiffel (Aus) Start: 11pm. TV: Sky Sports Cricket.