Joe Root, England’s centurion in the first innings, has issued a rallying cry to his teammates, encouraging them to “express themselves in the right way” on what he termed a crucial third day of the second Ashes Test. Australia holds a 44-run lead in Brisbane after bowling England out for 334 and then compiling 378 for six, bolstered by fifties from Jake Weatherald, Marcus Labuschagne, and stand-in captain Steve Smith.
“It’s clear we weren’t our best at that phase of the game,” Root commented on England’s bowling effort. “But the way that we dragged things back, by managing to take those wickets in a cluster, it shows what the nature of this game can be like, especially with the pink ball.” He acknowledged the team’s fightback during Australia’s innings.
Root’s unbeaten 138 was the highlight of England’s innings, marking his first century in Australia and 40th Test hundred overall. A late flourish with Jofra Archer, who contributed 70 runs in a swift partnership, provided some late impetus. However, England’s batting largely faltered, with Zak Crawley’s 76 being the only other significant score and four players registering ducks.
Fielding has been an area of concern for England, with several dropped catches impacting the game’s momentum. Jamie Smith and Ben Duckett were among those who missed opportunities, allowing Travis Head and Alex Carey to extend their stays. Root, however, expressed confidence in the team’s preparation for pink-ball cricket. “We get a lot of exposure to [floodlit cricket] in ODI cricket and T20 cricket, but it is slightly different,” he noted. “But you still back yourself. We practice really hard for the five days leading up to it. We made sure we got our work done. Unfortunately, it’s just one of those days where a few didn’t quite stick to hand. We’ve got to make sure we stay confident, we stay up and, when we get those chances later on in the fixture, we’re ready to take them.”
With the game delicately poised, Root anticipates a determined effort from England on Day 3. “We’ve obviously got some more work to do tomorrow, but we’re certainly well and truly in this game. More than anything, we’ve got to come out with a huge amount of energy and positivity. We know our best cricket can turn a game very quickly, so we’ll turn up tomorrow with the right attitude. We know that, if we’re anywhere near our best, then very quickly this game can turn in our favour.”
Root’s immediate priority is for the bowling attack to secure Australia’s remaining wickets promptly. “If we get things right in the morning, and go about things as a team in the correct fashion, then we can put ourselves in a really strong position on a wicket which looks like it’s plating,” he said. “It looks like there might be a few cracks to work with later on in the game. But clearly, we’ve got to look at tomorrow morning first and foremost, and get things right there.”
He stressed the importance of the batting lineup capitalizing on their chances. “When we get out there with the bat, the quality that we have and the talent that’s in that dressing room can go out there and express themselves in the right way on that surface to go and get a big score, which could be very tricky batting last on that surface.” Root concluded by reaffirming his personal batting philosophy: “I’ve got quite a clear plan for how I score my runs. I’ve just got to back myself and understand that, if I do that for long periods of time and make good decisions, I’ll be successful.”