Lord’s decider is the defining Test of Root’s tenure so far
● Defeat would make it mixed summer ● Roland-jones is preferred to Woakes
Joe Root’s first summer as England captain features a defining final Test – a Lord’s decider against West Indies.
Root’s men suffered an unexpected setback at Headingley last week when the Windies defied their critics and shocked England by pulling off their first Test win in this country in 17 years.
It would be an uncomfortable bottom line for the Yorkshireman’s maiden season in charge if, in the last of seven Tests in nine weeks, England come up short again and are forced to reflect on a mixed campaign of one 3-1 success over South Africa but then a 2-1 failure against tourists who have not won a Test series in this country since 1988.
No-one will be able to quibble with Root’s own output, of course, as he goes in search of a world-record 13th consecutive Test with at least one halfcentury against his name.
He has been his own biggest critic of late, citing the need to turn more of those 50s into centuries.
Although England have come to rely on their captain’s wonderful consistency at No 4, Root’s form is not among the conundrums they need to solve before the start of their Ashes campaign in Brisbane in November.
Tom Westley’s as yet inconclusive regression at No 3 is top of the list requiring a solution and the likely identity of their third seamer at the Gabba is another after England opted to replace Chris Woakes with Toby Roland-jones for this match.
Asked about the prospect of going above AB de Villiers as the outright holder of the record for consecutive matches with half-centuries, Root said modestly: “I would much rather it be hundreds.
“Of course you want to be consistent, always contributing, but definitely I would like to convert a little bit more.
“I hope if I do go and get to a half-decent score I can kick on and make a bigger one.”
On the question of why Woakes has been dropped after returning from his side injury at Leeds, in favour of Roland-jones on his home ground, Root suggested it is a “horses-for-courses” switch.
“Going into this week, we have picked the side that suits conditions best, and Toby deserves the opportunity,” said Root. “He knows the ground extremely well.
“He has had some great success here over the years and is full of confidence through the way he has played in Test cricket this summer.”
On Woakes’ status above Roland-jones in the longer term, suddenly the jury appeared to be out. “It is hard to say,” added Root. “The way he has played for England over the last year or so, and such a focal point of our team, it is hard to look past that. When someone like Toby comes in and does as well as he has, it is a great problem to have. You want guys putting their hands up, putting in strong performances and making it difficult to leave them out.”
Woakes was back at Headingley from a side injury which wrecked the majority of his season, and mustered only two wickets.
Root said: “He passed all the fitness tests and seemed fit... but it is difficult to balance between being physically fit and bowling the right amount in games.”
As for Westley, whose loss of form has coincided with an unpicking of his technique by some high-profile pundits, Root is hoping the answers can come from within rather than from “experts” beyond the boundary.
Root added: “Nobody knows his game as well as he does. He has had a lot of success over the years. He is very smart, intelligent and desperate to take his chance this week.
“One of the biggest challenges of coming into the Test environment is the exposure.
“It is trying to find a way of overcoming that and going out there and knowing your own game as well and being strong enough to trust that.
“Tom deserves the opportunity to play this week, and we hope he will go out and score a bag load of runs. I hope he can come back and show the strong character he has, and come back from a couple of low scores.” David Warner reached a second successive century as Australia built a 72-run first-innings lead in Chittagong on a rain-delayed third day of the second Test against Bangladesh.
The morning session was washed out, with play starting two-and-a-half hours late, and Australia advanced from 225 for two to 377 for nine before bad light halted play for the day.
Warner, resuming on 88 not out, was looking to follow up his 112 in last week’s surprise defeat in Mirpur but soon lost his thirdwicket partner. The hosts made their breakthrough when Peter Handscomb, who had been on 69 overnight, was run out for 82 by a direct hit from Shakib Al Hasan as he tried to help bring up Warner’s century with a quick single. They had together put on a stand of 152 runs.
Warner eventually reached three figures when he put away a full toss from Nasir Hossain to the boundary for his fifth four of the innings.
However, after Bangladesh took the new ball, Warner was caught on 123 at leg gully by Imrul Kayes following a short-pitched delivery from paceman Mustafizur Rahman, who was celebrating his 22nd birthday.
Mehidyhasanwasstruck on the hand and chest as Hilton Cartwright sent his delivery back down the wicket, before the spinner had the batsman edge into the slips to depart for 18, with Australia narrowly ahead at 321 for five at tea.
Bangladesh, who had made 305 all out in their first innings, enjoyed the better of the closing session as Australia’s middle and lower order struggled, the home team claiming four further wickets and also restricting the tourists’ run rate.
Glenn Maxwell was ruled to have been caught behind for 38 after a television check from the umpire to make sure the ball had carried, while Ashton Agar added a late 22 from his hour in the middle.
At stumps, Australia’s Steve O’keefe was eight not out and last man Nathan Lyon had yet to score, while Mehidy and Mustafizur both had three-wicket hauls.