England have to be ruthless now, demands Root
RUN-MACHINE Joe Root insists England must show a ruthless streak and ram home their advantage during the fifth and final Test against India, which starts at the Oval on Friday.
The Yorkshireman top-scored with 77 as England flexed their muscle at Old Trafford last week to brush aside the tourists by an innings and 54 runs and establish an unassailable 2-1 series lead.
And Root, who is second only to Gary Ballance in the list of English run scorers against the Indians this summer, believes there is no room for complacency after the back-to-back victories and a likely backlash.
“I think the key now is to go into Friday and continue to build on what we’ve done so far and remember this is just the start of where we want to be,” said Root.
“We can’t rest on just two Test wins, we have to capitalise on what we’ve started and really cement what we’ve done to take this series home.
“If we want to become a really good side, we’re going to have to be really ruthless and grasp the opportunities we get, like at Old Trafford because India are going to come back hard at us.”
Seamer Stuart Broad took six first-innings wickets in Manchester and remains on course to play in the fifth Test despite suffering a broken nose following a vicious Varun Aaron bouncer.
While doubts remain over the fitness of the Nottinghamshire bowler, there are no such concerns over his new-ball partner James Anderson who could end the English summer in recording-breaking fashion.
Lancastrian Anderson has 376 scalps to his name and needs a further eight to overtake Sir Ian Botham as England’s leading wicket-taker in Test cricket, and Root admits the 32-year-old is exactly the sort of character a successful team requires.
“He’s one of those blokes who comes up every game, he fronts up and he always gives his best, those are the sort of guys you need in the side,” added Root.