Australia lost to India at Gabba in 2021, their first Test loss after 33 years at the venue.
England’s Test skipper Joe Root said that Australia’s defeat against India at Gabba, Brisbane will linger in their minds when the Ashes 2021-22 kick starts at the same venue.
After a lot of talks and decisions, the Ashes 2021-2022 finally got the green signal and the much-anticipated Test series will begin from 8th December at the Gabba followed by the second Test match at Adelaide Oval on 16th December.
The third and fourth Test match will be played on 26th December and 5th January at MCG and SCG respectively. The fifth and final Test match of the Ashes will take place on 14th January at Optus Perth Stadium.
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Team India created history earlier this year as they breached Australia’s fortress at Gabba to win the Border-Gavaskar series. The visitors chased 328 runs to defeat the Tim Paine-led side for the first time in 33 years at the venue.
Taking about the same, England’s red-ball skipper Joe Root said that India defeating Australia at the Gabba will give every player in their squad a huge amount of confidence and will plant a bit of doubt in Australia’s mind.
He added that Australia will be under pressure playing their first match at the venue since losing to India and his side knows that the venue is no longer Australia’s fortress.
"Look at that India team that won at the Gabba. They were a long way from their first-choice XI but they had no fear. They stood up to Australia and won crucial parts of that Test. It will give every player in our squad a huge amount of confidence and just plant a little bit of doubt in Australia's mind.
“Having to go back there and play again for the first time against us, what with it being such a stronghold for them for such a long period of time. We now know that it's not,” Joe Root told the Guardian.
Root said that in the last two tours to Australia he got desperate but this time with a bit of experience and on the back of the year full of runs, will put him in a better place and will look to continue his red-hot form.
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"The two previous tours I think if anything I probably got a bit too desperate. That extra bit of experience off the back of a fruitful year for me personally puts me in a better place. I'd got an inkling,” he said.
Joe Root revealed that he had good conversations with Ben Stokes while he was away from cricket. He expressed his happiness to have the all-rounder back in the squad for the Ashes.
“I'd had some good conversations with Ben over the period while he's not been playing. It was just such a joy to hear him speak. You could almost hear his smile, if that makes sense, down the phone. You could tell he was so much happier within himself,” he concluded.
(ESPNCricinfo inputs)