Joe Root insists the wheels have not come off England’s Ashes campaign after missed catches gave Australia five extra lives and a first innings lead at the Gabba.
Root’s unbeaten 138 – his long-awaited first hundred Down Under – took the tourists to a competitive 334, but a disappointing performance on day two saw Australia take the initiative in this lit second Test.
The Baggy Greens will resume their innings 44 in front after reaching 378 for six and were helped along the way by some scattershot bowling and a handful of missed chances.
Wicketkeeper Jamie Smith was the first to blame as the pink Kookaburra proved elusive, bagging an early nick from Travis Head, before Ben Duckett made two errors in the gully and Brydon Carse missed a simple chance under the lights.
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AUSTRALIA V ENGLAND: SECOND TEST SCORECARD, DAY TWO
Sharpen
A new lead opened late on between Root and Smith and things will need to tighten up if England are to regain lost ground.
Will Jacks offered reason for optimism with a stunning one-handed jump to deny key man Steve Smith and Root, who captained Australia to 4-0 losses in 2017/18 and 2021/22, does not believe the trail has gone cold.
“We are not perfect, we are all human and we will make mistakes. But it is how we respond,” he said.
(Robbie Stephenson/PA)
Correct posture
“It’s about making sure we show up with the right frame of mind and the right attitude and knowing that our best cricket is good enough to do very special things here.
“The wheels could have come off and at other times, probably on a tour where I was captain, they would have.
“But we know our best cricket and when we perform well we are a very difficult side to play against.
“I don’t think we’ve completely figured it out.”
(Robbie Stephenson/PA)
Defense
Root also offered a strong defense of England’s preparations.
He suggested the inability to hold their own in the field had nothing to do with a lack of hard work in the build-up or their decision to skip a day/night warm-up match in Canberra.
“You can’t recreate the surface, the bounce and the way the scratches form. It will never be exactly the same and it will never be perfect,” he said.
“We’ve gotten used to the conditions, we’ve gotten used to the heat, we’ve gotten used to the surfaces.
“We took pictures under lights, we took pictures in daylight and we also tried to take pictures at dusk.
“Sometimes they don’t stick and you’re always looking for answers.”
(Robbie Stephenson/PA)
Satisfying
Root will be relieved he no longer has to answer questions about his lack of centuries in Australia’s backyard, but is unwilling to fully embrace his achievement with a Test on the line.
However, traveling fans in Brisbane and many more at home have already done that for him.
“That’s nice to hear. I’m very grateful for that support,” he said.
“But I’ve said a few times: this tour isn’t about me, it’s about us trying to win the Ashes.
“My job is to score as many runs as I can and as a senior batsman in the side I expect that from myself.
“Of course it means more with a win. I think at the end of the match I will be in a better position to think about it.”
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