DEFIANT ROOT IS READY FOR A REBUILD

Victory in Sydney crucial to his plan

Awry smile was back on Joe root’s face yesterday as he contemplated what he might have done differently if he had his time again to change the outcome of his first Ashes tour as England captain.

‘I’d have made sure no-one headbutted anyone and people were more sensible off the field on the back of what happened in the summer,’ said root with the weary air of a fledgling leader who has had to deal with his share of self-inflicted problems here, as well as everything Australia could throw at him.

‘It’s been a long trip with stuff you don’t want to have to deal with as captain, but I think I’ve gained a lot from that and I’m looking forward to the different challenges that will present themselves after this trip.’

The good news is that root, looking energised by a far better England performance in the fourth-Test draw in Melbourne and spending his 27th birthday surrounded by family, is very much up for those challenges.

The dark clouds that have loomed over England since the Ben Stokes affair in September, and significantly affected them on and off the field, might just be starting to clear.

Clearly root sees tonight’s final Test here at the SCG as the start of a journey towards the next Ashes series in Australia in four years rather than the end of the line for an England team still on the up, rather than one on the way down.

‘Of course I do,’ said root (right) when asked if he still wanted to be in charge in 2021 the next time England undergo an Ashes examination that has been far too testing for them three of the last four times they have played in Australia.

‘I want us to be the best side in the world and it’s not going to happen overnight. we know when the ball moves laterally we are one of the best teams in the world already but, let’s be honest, there will be some changes in the bowling department unless we are still wheeling Jimmy Anderson out at 40.

‘It’s really important we are not daunted the next time we come here or feel like there’s a massive gap between the sides because, if certain things fall into place, we’ve got a really good chance in four years. The planning for that has to start now.’

To that end, England’s attempts to finally win a Test and end this sorry tour on a high note have, in root’s eyes, taken on huge significance and there will be no changes just for the sake of giving anyone a game.

There will be no repeat of last time when England, then 4- 0 down, gave debuts in Sydney to Scott Borthwick, Boyd rankin and Gary Ballance and promptly lost in three days.

‘It’s paramount we win this game,’ insisted root. ‘ It’s really important to me and the rest of the squad moving forward. I want to pick a team that’s going to suit the surface here and give us the best chance of doing that.’

That team still looks sure to include one debutant — 20-yearold leg- spinner Mason Crane — even though the SCG wicket looked to have extra grass on it yesterday and will suit seam rather than spin for the first two days.

‘He’s definitely done all he can to push his case forward and he’s been very professional for a young man in the way he’s gone about his business,’ said root of Crane. ‘His attitude has been exceptional for a guy on his first trip.’

The big question remains whether Crane comes in for the woefully out-of-form Moeen Ali or whether England attempt their psychological trick of last summer and tell Moeen he will be playing as their second spinner.

The picture is complicated by Chris woakes suffering a ‘niggle’ that could rule him out. In that case Moeen would probably play alongside Crane, with Tom Curran retaining his place after a decent debut in Melbourne.

root was non-committal about Moeen’s chances but the way he compared the all-rounder’s situation now to his own four years ago, when he was one of the players left out of the final Test, suggests there may be a repeat now.

‘Looking at my own career, being left out was one of the best things that ever happened to me and then coming back into the team you have a slightly different view on things,’ said root. ‘ you go away and give yourself the opportunity to work extremely hard on areas you want to look at. you have a different drive and determination moving forward.

‘I’m not saying that’s definitely going to be the case with Mo, but if it is then I’m sure he’ll have the right attitude towards it. I’m not worried about him. He’s a fine player.’

There is much to play for. Stuart Broad is two wickets away from 400 in Tests while Jonny Bairstow will be making an emotional 50th Test appearance on the 20th anniversary of the premature death of his dad David.

Much at stake, too, for James Vince and Mark Stoneman ahead of next week’s selection of the Test squad for New Zealand — with coach Trevor Bayliss this week ‘bigging up’ the chances of the next generation of Lions batsmen.

There will be no letting up by Australia, either, with Mitchell Starc expected to return in place of Jackson Bird as long as his heel injury does not flare up after yesterday’s net session.

The result, with Australia 3-0 up and the Ashes safely gathered, should not really matter.

But it does. And root wants it to be the springboard towards something better in Australia.