England captain Joe Root said yesterday he was thankful to still hold his post after a crushing Ashes series loss as he insisted a revamped team could bounce back in the West Indies.
A humiliating 4-0 reverse in Australia saw England director of cricket Ashley Giles, head coach Chris Silverwood and batting coach Graham Thorpe all sacked.
Root, however, was spared the fate of the three former England cricketers, and allowed to continue as captain, although many observers suggested that was due to a lack of alternatives if officials wanted to avoid burdening all-rounder Ben Stokes with the job. The Yorkshire batsman was spared the axe by acting director of cricket Andrew Strauss, with Root well aware the decision could have gone the other way as he commiserated with the dismissed backroom staff.
“It’s never nice when you see people that you’ve worked closely with for a long period of time lose their jobs,” said Root ahead of a new-look squad’s departure for the Caribbean yesterday.
“They’ve given a huge amount to English cricket. I really hope they find something that fulfils them.
“Clearly it was a disappointing tour and we massively underperformed. Off the back of it we have to use this opportunity for a fresh start. I’m very grateful that I’ve got the opportunity to do that as captain.”
England, bidding to end a woeful run of just one win in 14 Tests, will travel to the West Indies without their two all-time leading bowlers in the format after the new-ball duo of James Anderson and Stuart Broad were both controversially dropped.
Root’s men, who include the uncapped trio of pace bowlers Saqib Mahmood and Matt Fisher as well as leg-spinner Matt Parkinson, are bidding to become just the second England team since 1968 to win a Test series in the West Indies. England are currently bottom of the World Test Championship table but Root said their fortunes could change rapidly if they got off to a good start in a three-match series that begins in Antigua on March 8.
“Ultimately sometimes it doesn’t take a long time to change things,” said Root. “It can happen quite quickly and that’s what we’re looking for.
“We have to be honest about where we are, we’re not currently one of the best teams in the world but that can be our ambition and there’s definitely quick strides we can make in getting closer to that and bridge that gap.”
England did not once manage a total of 300 in the five-match Ashes series and their top-order problems have been the underlying cause of many a recent Test defeat at both home and abroad.
Rather than come in with England already two wickets down cheaply, Root has decided to move up a place in the batting order from number four to number three.
It has not previously been a happy berth for Root. In 30 Tests at first-wicket down he averages 38.66, compared to an excellent 51.27 in 62 matches at four.
The 31-year-old, however, has been emboldened by a 2021 tally of 1,708 Test runs – an England record return in a calendar year and the third most by anyone behind Pakistan’s Mohamed Yousuf and West Indies’ Viv Richards – to move back up the order.
“It’s the first time it’s sat comfortably with me,” said Root.
“I am coming into it having had a really strong year with a lot more clarity about how I’m going to score my runs... I’m a lot more experienced. I feel it’s the right fit for this team.”

Anderson ‘praying’ for England recall after West Indies axe

England great James Anderson hopes his record-breaking international career has not been ended following his dramatic omission from the upcoming tour of the West Indies.
Both Anderson and Stuart Broad, England’s two all-time leading Test wicket-takers, have been left out of next month’s three-match series in the Caribbean as part of a major shake-up following a humiliating 4-0 loss in Australia.
The controversial call was made by a selection panel headed by interim director of cricket Andrew Strauss – his predecessor Ashley Giles and England coach Chris Silverwood were both sacked after the Ashes debacle.
But even though he will turn 40 in July, Anderson – whose 640 Test wickets are the most taken by any fast bowler in history – said Wednesday he had no plans to retire.
“It’s been a weird couple of weeks,” Anderson told the BBC Tailenders podcast.
“I’ve just been trying to process what’s gone on. Obviously it was a bit of a shock and a disappointment to get that call to say I am not going.
“I’m praying this isn’t the end.”
Anderson, in contrast to the conventional wisdom that says quicker bowlers decline after turning 35, believes he is getting better with age – and the figures prove him right. Not only was Anderson’s average of 23.37 in the Ashes the lowest of all England’s bowlers, in the 44 Tests since his 35th birthday he has taken 160 wickets at a miserly 21.72.
“I do still feel like I’ve got a lot to offer,” he said.
“Since I’ve turned 35 my record’s got even better so I know that I’m not slowing down, I’m not losing anything.
“I’ve got one more go at digging deep, I’ve dug deep quite a lot over the last 20 years but I still love playing the game, I still loved bowling out in Australia even though the results didn’t go our way.”
England captain Joe Root echoed Strauss in saying he too had told Anderson and Broad their Test careers were not finished.
“At no point – it’s been made very clear – no one is saying this is the end for them,” said Root.
England have won just one Test series in the Caribbean since 1968 and Root stressed the omission of Anderson and Broad in no way meant the upcoming campaign was a “development tour”.
“I’m very passionate, I want England to win, I’m as big a fan as anyone watching,” said Root.
Anderson and Broad have taken a combined 1,177 Test wickets. None of the fast bowlers selected for the West Indies have taken 200, with only Ben Stokes (167) and Chris Woakes (125) into three figures.
Woakes has an expensive bowling average of 52.38 in overseas Tests, compared to 22.63 in England.
Root, however, said he had “not had the opportunity to bowl with the new ball away from home”.
“But it’s not just Chris, it’s other guys who can step up as well,” said Root.
“The likes of Mark Wood had a fantastic tour of Australia, bowled with heart, great passion, speed, endurance, being able to do it for long periods of time. It’s a chance for him to grow and develop as a player as well. And really, I want those guys (to) step into that void and enjoy that challenge, and enjoy becoming more senior within the group.”
The series begins in Antigua on March 8, with the second Test in Barbados commencing on March 16 and the third in Grenada starting on March 24.