Root standing by Cook'n Co

JOE ROOT insists it’s not the end of the road for three senior stars after England’s Ashes thumping.

Australia regained the urn with an innings and 41 runs win in Perth yesterday to take a 3-0 lead in the five-Test series.

Opener Alastair Cook (above) and paceman Stuart Broad have failed to make an impact in Oz. There are also question marks hanging over the future of Jimmy Anderson, who turns 36 in July.

But England captain Root said: “I’d like to think Cook, Broad and

Anderson will be in the team in a year’s time. “They have a huge amount of experience and their performances over a long period of time speak for themselves. “The senior guys have proven time and time again that they have got it. “It’s important that we don’t panic and make any hasty decisions.” Ex-skipper Cook’s slump in form is particularly alarming. England’s leading run-scorer of all time averaged a measly 13.83 in the first three Tests and has a highest score of just 37 in his past 10 innings.

“Cook’s a very stubborn guy – he likes proving people wrong,” said Root

(left) ahead of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.

“I see him coming out at Melbourne and Sydney and hopefully turning it around and making big scores.”

England’s whitewash Down Under in 2013 coincided with the break-up of the side, with Graeme Swann retiring mid-series.

Matt Prior and Jonathan Trott soon followed him while Kevin Pietersen was later exiled.