Cricket May 13, 2026

The Ashes: England's Joe Root says it would be 'silly' to change management after series defeat in Australia

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
The Ashes: England's Joe Root says it would be 'silly' to change management after series defeat in Australia

Joe Root says it would be "silly" for England to change their management team after the Ashes defeat and insists the players are "absolutely committed" to the current set-up.

England lost the first three Tests in Australia across just 11 days of cricket, piling pressure on captain Ben Stokes, coach Brendon McCullum and director of cricket Rob Key.

However, the two-day victory in the Boxing Day game at the MCG ended an 18-Test winless run for England in Australia stretching back to their triumph in the 2010-11 series.

They will now be looking to end the tour on a high note with success in the final Test at Sydney from January 4.

Root, who was captain when England lost 4-0 Down Under in both 2017-18 and 2021-22, said: "In terms of the playing group, we're absolutely committed to the management.

"They've been outstanding, so I think it would be silly (to overlook) the amount of hard work and things that have been done.

"You look at the group of players that we've got and you look at the guys that were involved in the team when I was captain four years ago - every single one of them has improved as a player. This team has improved as a team."

England's Ashes preparation was criticised after they played just one warm-up game, against their second-string the Lions, ahead of the first Test in Perth.

The ECB is also looking into allegations of excessive drinking during a mid-series break in Noosa, with an unverified video appearing to show batter Ben Duckett intoxicated.

Root added: "Clearly there's always going to be things to do and things to work on and, yes, we can be better.

"There are certain areas that we'll continue to keep working at but the management work extremely hard.

"They might do things in a slightly different way and it might appear different to what we're used to as an English team, but I think we've made great strides as a group and a big reason for it is because of the guys that we have behind us.

"It's been a very different approach and different way of doing things, but there's been a considerable move forward in terms of how we've played throughout that period."

Root has finally won a Test in Australia at the 18th time of asking after also being part of the 5-0 hammering in 2013-14, while he scored his maiden Ashes hundred away from home in the second Test at Brisbane earlier this month.

The batter said: "I didn't want to come here and lose another Ashes series.

"[The MCG] win feels weird. It's disappointing that we've lost the series, but it's really important that we managed to get the right side of the result [in Melbourne].

"It would be better if we win next week as well. Every Test match, every time you get the opportunity to represent your country, is a huge privilege, huge honour.

"If we can build on it and do it again next time it's momentum in the right direction for the next tour here [in 2029-30]."

Australia lead five-match series 3-1

Tags:

cricket news

Share this article

Related Posts

County Championship: Ben Stokes falls for 14 in Durham comeback as Glamorgan's Tom Norton takes hat-trick against Somerset

County Championship: Ben Stokes falls for 14 in Durham comeback as Glamorgan's Tom Norton takes hat-trick against Somerset

Teenager Tom Norton claimed a sensational hat-trick on his Rothesay County Championship debut to help Glamorgan fight back against Somerset at Sophia...

Ben Stokes: England captain will '100 per cent' bowl for Durham on return from injury, says county boss

Ben Stokes: England captain will '100 per cent' bowl for Durham on return from injury, says county boss

Ben Stokes' county comeback is set to be an all-action affair, with Durham considering unleashing the England captain as a new-ball strike bowler.Stok...

Marcus North: Former Australia international set to be appointed as England national selector

Marcus North: Former Australia international set to be appointed as England national selector

England are set to appoint former Australia international Marcus North as their national selector.Final interviews reportedly took place this week, wi...

Ben Stokes strikes twice for Durham as England captain makes county comeback in first appearance post-Ashes

Ben Stokes strikes twice for Durham as England captain makes county comeback in first appearance post-Ashes

England Test captain Ben Stokes has put himself forward as a possible new-ball option for the Test series against New Zealand next month after taking...

Ben Duckett: ECB 'establishing facts' after social media video appears to show England opener drunk

Ben Duckett: ECB 'establishing facts' after social media video appears to show England opener drunk

The England and Wales Cricket Board says they are "establishing the facts" after a video posted on social media appeared to show a drunken Ben Duckett...

The Ashes: Should England's Jacob Bethell have batted at No 3 or lower down the order in Melbourne?

The Ashes: Should England's Jacob Bethell have batted at No 3 or lower down the order in Melbourne?

No 3 has been a problem position for England in The Ashes with Ollie Pope struggling for form and his replacement Jacob Bethell was dismissed for just...