Joe Root launched a defended his decision to bat first in Brisbane and rest his two most experienced bowlers as England collapsed to a nine-wicket defeat in the first Test of the Ashes series.
The tourists started day four hoping to build a lead that would have given them a chance of securing a miraculous victory having been skittled for 147 in their first innings.
Root and Dawid Malan led the fightback on day three, sharing in an unbeaten hundred partnership, but were unable to offer any resistance as England lost their final eight wickets for just 77 runs, finishing 297 all out, before Australia knocked off their tiny target of 20 in 5.1 overs.
Root was criticised for opting to bat first having won the toss on a wicket that appeared to suit his attack, but the skipper denied that decision represented the pivotal moment of the match.
‘I look back on the toss and I think it was the right decision,’ he said. ‘Being 29-4 makes it look like that’s not the case and credit to Australia to exploit those conditions a little bit.
‘But if we get some sort of score on the board, with how that wicket started to behave on day four, you’re looking at a very different contest.’
Eyebrows were raised by the decision to keep Stuart Broad and James Anderson out of the firing line and save them for the upcoming day / night Test in Adelaide.
Root added: ‘It’s easy to look back in hindsight [and say Anderson and Broad should have played]. One thing I will say is that we wanted variation in our attack.
‘We wanted to be able to change the pace of the game and move through different gears throughout the innings.
‘If you look at Jimmy’s position coming into the game, it was a risk to play him. Anderson being available for as many Tests as possible is really important to us.’
Jack Leach, meanwhile, recorded an unwanted piece of history with the 73 balls it took for Australia to smash his bowling for 100 runs. a new Ashes record. However, Root has still backed Leach to have a big impact on the series.
Root added: ‘Jack’s a fine spinner. He’s shown over the 20-odd Test matches that he’s played what an instrumental part he can play within this team and I’m sure he’ll play a big part in this series.
‘It’s easy to look back in hindsight [and say Anderson and Broad should have played]. One thing I will say is that we wanted variation in our attack.
‘We wanted to be able to change the pace of the game and move through different gears throughout the innings.
‘If you look at Jimmy’s position coming into the game, it was a risk to play him. Anderson being available for as many Tests as possible is really important to us.’
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