THOSE WERE THE DAYS
brilliantly, and I expect him to do that coming into this arena.”
Root’s captaincy took some hits at Edgbaston, as well it should have done. He was too quick to change his plans against the formidable Smith, betraying the feeling that he had little confidence in any of his bowlers as he allowed his team to squander a winning position.
Any captain who lets slip 122-8 on the first day and goes under by 251 runs should be under pressure.
And, in a country in which captains are judged on their Ashes record more than any other, Root will be feeling it as he is yet to taste victory in six attempts.
“It’s about how quickly you can adapt, knowing when to be a little bit more aggressive and when to suck it up,” Root said. “And are you skilful enough to manage that as a bowling group and me as the captain?”
Archer is his big gun and key to that. It will be interesting to see how Root manages him. England try out their red caps ahead of tomorrow’s show of colour in support of the Ruth Strauss Foundation to raise awareness of lung cancer ON THIS DAY IN SPORT
1948: Cricketing great Sir Donald Bradman was out second ball for a duck in his final Test innings. The Australian needed just four runs to finish with a Test average of 100 but, after receiving a standing ovation on his way to the crease at the Oval, below, he had tears in his eyes and was bowled by leg-spinner Eric Hollies to finish with an average of 99.94.
1999: Tommy Mooney gave Premiership new boys Watford a shock 1-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield. 2001: Skipper Matthew Fleming ran out four players with direct hits as Kent, who eventually went on to win the Norwich Union League, beat Surrey at Canterbury. 2014: Manager Tony Pulis left Crystal Palace in a sudden and unexpected move less than 48 hours before the start of the new Premier League season.
2016: Max Whitlock became Britain’s first Olympic gymnastics gold medallist by winning the men’s floor event, before adding a second gold in the pommel horse.