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Joe Root hoping England's Test team can 'ride World Cup wave' and take that form into the Ashes

Joe Root says there is
Joe Root says there is

 

England Test captain Joe Root hopes that the team can “ride the wave” of the World Cup triumph and transfer that form into the Test arena.

The Test with Ireland at Lord’s will be England’s first game since winning their first World Cup after a Super Over at the same ground 10 days earlier.

“We couldn't be better-placed in many ways. There's a huge amount of confidence coming off the back of that,” Root said. “The most important thing for me, the message that there has been to the squad, is to play with a huge amount of pride and passion and intensity. The intensity this week will set the tone for the rest of the summer.”

Root hopes that England’s performance against Ireland will set the tone for the looming challenge of the Ashes, which begins at Edgbaston a week on Thursday.

“That’s definitely what we are looking to do and that’s been the message to the group. It’s a great chance. We don’t want to sleepwalk into this. Any Lord’s Test match at the start is a good chance to set a precedent for the way we want to play for the rest of the summer. I don’t want anyone walking into it and not being 100% on it."

James Anderson will be absent from England’s inaugural Test with Ireland, as his return from a calf injury is managed. But Anderson remains on course to play in the first Ashes Test.

“Jimmy probably would have been able to get through this Test match,” Root said. “We thought the last thing we want is him carrying a niggle going into a series so we tried to be sensible about it and give him as much time to be 100% going into that series.”

England bowler James Anderson (l) takes part in a fitness run with Phil Scott during England nets ahead of the Test Match against Ireland - Credit: Getty Images
James Anderson will sit this Test match out Credit: Getty Images

In Anderson’s absence, Olly Stone will make his Test debut, with Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes taking the new ball. Stone may well have been selected regardless, with England keen to blood a bowler who has regularly topped 90mph in county cricket, especially with Jofra Archer likely to miss the first Ashes Test and Mark Wood ruled out of the first three.

“I think he’s got good pace. That’s one thing that he brings to this group - an extra bit of pace, something different to turn to. It'll be a good opportunity to see him play this week.”

Stone’s debut follows the spectacular emergence this year of Archer and the success of Mark Wood in the World Cup, giving England a trio of bowlers who can exceed 90mph.

“It is something, especially away from home, I see as being a massive advantage and long term it is great to see those options coming to the fore and it is great to see those options give different types of bowlers to turn to.”

As well as Stone, Jason Roy will also make his Test debut. Roy is among the most feared openers in the ODI game, with nine centuries in 81 innings, including three in 12 innings during a stellar 2019 so far. His captain hopes that Roy, who has only opened 27 times in first-class cricket, and in two Championship matches in the past five seasons, bats in a similar buccaneering spirit.

 England's Olly Stone during nets  - Credit: reuters
England have real pace in their ranks with Olly Stone coming in for the Ireland Test Credit: reuters

“I hope he doesn’t try and play differently,” Root said. “With Jason I want him to just go out and be himself out there. I want him to express himself and just trust his instincts as much as possible. I think he's got very good instincts, he reads the game very well and he'll bring something different to our Test batting side for sure. He's a very exciting prospect and a proven performer in international cricket so fully capable of going on and making big contributions at the top of the order.

“Only in small pockets, but we've seen throughout the World Cup that he can soak up pressure and trust his defence,” Root added. “It might be that he has to do that for longer in Test cricket. But there are times when he can put pressure back on to the opposition and he's one of the best in the world at doing that.”

Moeen Ali will bat at six, allowing England to select a six-man bowling attack, with Jack Leach as the second spinner. “There are plenty of all rounders that follow and have shown they can score plenty of runs in Test cricket. It might not have a traditional look to a balanced Test team but we feel there is plenty there that covers all bases,” Root said.

The extra strength in bowling will relieve the workload on the attack during the baking heat, especially important as there will be 98 overs a day, rather than the customary 90, over the four-day Test.

While Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler are rested after their World Cup exertions, Root and other senior players - notably Jonny Bairstow - rejected the possibility of having a rest, preferring to have some red ball cricket before the Ashes.

“The question was posed to a number of guys and the decision was made on their behalf. You have got to give players responsibility, you have got to give them the chance to prepare how they want to prepare for a huge back end of the summer with six Test matches.

“You look at Jos and Ben in particular coming out of an IPL at the front of this summer as well it is important that they get a bit of time at home, get a bit of normality and a chance to be with their families. From a personal point of view I wanted to play this game, to get some red-ball cricket.”

The Test will also mark Joe Denly’s first international game since being dropped by England’s ODI side for the World Cup. Denly has made two hundreds in his past four County Championship games for Kent, and will bat at number three.

“It probably hit him quite hard at the start – you could probably tell that by his performances - but it shows strength of character to come back and make two very big hundreds.”

Root said that Ireland had “absolutely” earned the right to a Test at Lord’s. “They have upset sides like England in previous World Cups and they ran us close in the one-day format at the start of the year - and the Test match last summer against Pakistan was a brilliant Test match. I thought they played really well and proved that they deserved Test status. It is great that they get this chance, it is great for Test cricket. It is great for the game that sides like Ireland are getting a chance in this format.”