Joe Root has called on his England players to leave behind any baggage from their struggles against spin and produce a “monumental” end to their Test winter despite preparations for Thursday’s finale in India having been hampered by sickness.
Sitting 2-1 down with one to play, the fourth Test in Ahmedabad presents the tourists with a chance to become the first team since 2012 to avoid a series defeat in India and would also deny their hosts a place in June’s World Test Championship final.
Australia have needed favours from England throughout the series since their tour of South Africa was postponed due to Covid-19, taking it out of their hands whether they will qualify to play New Zealand in the late-June encounter.
There were a variety of series outcomes that would have put Australia through, but the only one left is for England to level the scoreline at 2-2 in Ahmedabad. England's two-day defeat in the third Test put England themselves out of the running for the final.
"[There's a] bit of self-interest there for us. We'll be hoping they can do the job there," Andrew McDonald, Australia's assistant coach who is in charge of the team in New Zealand, said.
"It's going to be difficult for them, no doubt, some of the surfaces have been conducive to spin bowling and probably India's strengths in their ability to play spin as well. We wish them well. See what unfolds, it's out of our hands but we'll be watching along with interest.
"Think most people have been watching that series with some great interest in terms of the conditions and the short nature of the Tests has been very interesting to watch from afar."
However, David Warner won't be able to bring himself to support England although would gladly take a spot in the final. "I won't be barracking for England," he said. "From a cricket perspective we'd like to see a draw [in the series]. It would be ideal for us to make the World Test Championship final and if that happens it's a great result for us."
Post a Comment