In the wake of yet another crushing Ashes defeat Down Under, Joe Root has argued it would be pointless for England to overhaul their management and stressed that the squad remains fully committed.
Meanwhile, former player Stuart Broad has cautioned that sacking director of cricket Rob Key could have wider consequences, including the potential loss of Ben Stokes’ captaincy.
England’s problems have also deepened with fast bowler Gus Atkinson ruled out of the fifth and final Test, leaving the side short of frontline options in Sydney.
Off the field, the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) – venue for the fourth Test – has been handed a demerit point after the ICC judged the pitch to be below acceptable standards.
Root backs England setup
“In terms of the playing group, we’re absolutely committed to the management,” Root told reporters after England’s win in Melbourne.
“They’ve been outstanding, so I think it would be silly [to throw away] the amount of hard work and things that have been done.
“You look at the group of players that we’ve got and you look at the guys that were involved in the team when I was captain four years ago – every single one of them has improved as a player. This team has improved as a team.”
On finally tasting Test victory in Australia at the 18th attempt, Root added: “I didn’t want to come here and lose another Ashes series.
“[The MCG] win feels weird – it’s disappointing that we’ve lost the series, but it’s really important that we managed to get the right side of the result.
“It would be better if we win next week as well. Every Test match, every time you get the opportunity to represent your country, is a huge privilege, huge honour.
“If we can build on it and do it again next time, it’s momentum in the right direction for the next tour here [in 2029/30].”
Broad calls for continuity
With England having now won a Test match in Australia for the first time since 2011, Broad wants continuity behind the scenes.
“I’m concerned of a domino effect if Rob Key loses his position,” he said on the Sky Sports Cricket podcast.
“Then Baz [head coach Brendon McCullum] would say, well, I don’t need the job, he gave me the job, I’m going. And then Stokes would go, well, if Baz is my man, I’m then going. I’ve been nervous of that.
“There will have to be conversations of the preparation and the planning and the selection because, ultimately, we’ve lost the Ashes 3-0 after three games against a team that you feel like were pretty beatable.
“But for me, I feel they should continue. They’ve given Baz the white-ball contract as well to the end of the 2027 World Cup, so they should honour that.
“I would remain patient with everyone in their positions at this moment in time, regardless of the result in Sydney.”
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MCG earns demerit point
The Boxing Day Test in Melbourne lasted a trifling two days as 36 wickets fell in only 142 overs on a strip that proved difficult to manage.
As a result, match referee Jeff Crowe stated: “The MCG pitch was too much in favour of the bowlers. With 20 wickets falling on the first day, 16 on the second day, and no batter even reaching a half-century, the pitch was ‘unsatisfactory’ as per the guidelines and the venue gets one demerit point.”
According to the ICC, cricket pitches are rated ‘very good’, ‘satisfactory’, ‘unsatisfactory’, or ‘unfit’, and venues must not accrue six or more demerit points over a five-year period.
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Atkinson misses Sydney Test
England will be without Atkinson for the series-ending New Year Test after scans identified a left hamstring issue, with the extent of the problem still to be confirmed.
The development brings a premature end to his maiden Ashes campaign, which closes with six wickets at an average of 47.33.
Atkinson’s exit further compounds the tourists’ injury troubles following Mark Wood’s knee setback and Jofra Archer’s side strain – and with no call-ups planned, Matthew Potts is poised to step in for Sydney.
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