ROOT PLOTS ‘SPECIAL’ WIN

JOE ROOT last night claimed England could still win the Second Test at Headingley and called for ‘something special’ with the hosts needing 411 more runs to win. With England closing a rain-ruined fourth day on 44 without loss, they would need to break the Test record for a successful fourth-innings chase by 37 runs. Root said: ‘There is quite a bit of work to do, but we’ve got an opportunity to do something special. ‘In a way, the rain has made things a little bit harder for us because we’ve got every intention of going out to win the game. ‘At least one person is going to have to play an important innings. But if you look in that changing-room, one to 11 are match-winners.’ BJ Watling, who became the first New Zealander to score a Test ton at Headingley, said: ‘We’re backing ourselves to win.’ England may have had worse sessions in the field than the 80 minutes they spent being flayed to all parts of Headingley by the Kiwis yesterday morning, but it’s difficult to remember any. This was as deflating as Lord’s was inspiring. The sight of England’s big two bowlers, Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson, being destroyed by New Zealand’s tail-enders offered a worrying portent of what might lie ahead against Australia this summer. Rain then cut short England’s attempt at putting things right with the bat in this second Test — and increased their chances of holding out for a draw, or pulling off the win that Root believes can happen.