Cup will get New winner
Root’s youngsters can put frighteners on world’s best
left) (front going to happen overnight, there’s going to be bumps in the road.
“We’re going to get it wrong on occasions, especially with a young group of players, but as long as the group is willing to learn and put it in time and time again we will win games of cricket.
“That’s the sort of attitude you need consistently if you want to keep improving and want to get to No.1 in the world.
“By no means
(right) are we the finished article. We’ve got a long way to go as a team but we’re heading in the right direction.”
And England did not even call on 24-year-old Jofra Archer in this game, although he is sure to be in the frame for Friday’s final Test in Johannesburg.
Root is feeling energised by the youth in his side but, along with Stokes, the impact of Mark Wood bowling consistently the fastest he ever has in Test cricket was a huge boost. Stuart Broad played his part in wrapping up the first innings, while Root’s willingness to bowl himself paid off brilliantly on day four, even if he was brought back down to earth yesterday as his final over went for a record-equalling 28. “We’ve had four guys under 25 making hundreds or taking five-fors on this tour and that’s a great place to be,” added Root. “We’ve got a really clear way of how we’re trying to play and we’ve executed that brilliantly in the last two games with everyone buying into it, and that is not just the youngsters either.”
WORCESTER boss Matt Newby is looking forward to renewing his rivalry with Bristol’s Andreas Kapoulas on Sunday and seeing a new name on the BBL Cup.
The first final of the season sees Newby’s Wolves take on Kapoulas’ Flyers at Birmingham Arena.
And neither has won the trophy – the equivalent of football’s League Cup – before.
Newby said: “I think it’s really healthy for the sport. Bristol and Worcester is a good rivalry geographically and the final has caught our fans’ imagination – we should have about 1,000 going.”
The two coaches have a history of big clashes in non-League hoops, when the Flyers were in the National League and Newby was boss of Leeds Carnegie.
He added: “Bristol were always our big rivals at Leeds. We beat them in the National Cup, a play-off semi; they stopped us from taking a league title. There is a bit of history there. You are going to see two very well-organised teams.”