Off field controversies keeping Root worried, claims Bairstow

England are trailing 2-0 in the Ashes series.

Root has had a tough time  as captain in the ongoing Ashes series. (AFP)

England have had a horrid start to defending their Ashes title as they have been marred by controversies and the two Test match defeats have came back to haunt them. Trailing in the five match series, England skipper Joe Root has some serious issues to sort out before the third Test match which starts on Thursday in Perth.

Meanwhile, England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow has voiced his opinion on his captain. It has all added up, whether fairly or otherwise, to a narrative of chaos surrounding the tour, a state of affairs which has not been helped by two relatively heavy defeats in the opening two Test matches. When asked whether Root had been let down, Bairstow replied: "I think everyone realises that is something we have done. And not just him”, said Bairstow.

Understandably, the tourists are keen to move on. "I think it has all been dealt with, and we need to move on from that," Bairstow said. "As players, we get back into training tomorrow and that is at the forefront of our mind. We've got three matches to go and we've got to win three Test matches. That is the challenge we're faced with.

"There are things that have been blown up, but at the same time, it is your job. If we don't play cricket well, then we lose our jobs. That is part and parcel of it, and we need to rebuild the trust we had built over the last few years as a team. That starts on Thursday morning”.

"You rebuild it by winning games of cricket. You've got to go out and win games and that starts at training and then in the Test. We're 2-0 down and it is a situation you don't want to be in. At the same time, we're not completely out of it, we've got three opportunities to go and do something special” Bairstow further went on to add.

Bairstow himself was involved in an unfortunate incident including him and Australian batsman Cameron Bancroft which later made the rounds in media as a “headbutt” controversy. Ben Duckett incidentally poured a drink over James Anderson’s head which circled the media again and was subsequently been fined and received a written warning.

It remains to be seen whether England make any personnel changes for the third Test but the lack of options in the squad would suggest they may stick with the same side as in Adelaide. A change which could be considered is to move Bairstow, who has made three scores of over 20 but has often been left stranded with the tail, up the order from his current position of number seven.

"I've got no idea. I don't think so," he said when asked whether that was a possibility. "I've not heard anything. I don't think that is an issue to be honest. The side that walks out on Thursday has to be the side that Joe [Root] is happy with and confident with, in whichever order it is he and Trevor think puts us in the best shape to win the Test."

 
 

By Anshuman Roy - 12 Dec, 2017

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