Joe Root and his England team have managed to do something really special on this tour to Sri Lanka.
They have beaten Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka, something which no team except India has managed to do in the last three years, during which South Africa and Australia were whitewashed and the Windies were brushed aside.
Root’s men have been brilliant on this tour to Sri Lanka. To win a Test series in the island nation for the first time since 2001 is a special achievement.
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There are trigger points in life that make you change a lot of things. England have experienced these in all forms of cricket.
The 2015 World Cup was the turning point for England as far as limited-overs cricket is concerned. They were ousted in the group stage when Bangladesh beat them and qualified for the quarter-finals. They knew something had to change – and look at them now. They are the best ODI side in the world and are early favourites for the 2019 World Cup.
England’s Test side was not going anywhere. Though they were winning at home, their team still seemed vulnerable. They hadn’t won a Test match outside England since October 2016. Despite remaining unbeaten at home (series-wise), there were cracks and England constantly lost at least one Test in every series at home.
It had been close to three years since England won an overseas Test series. Last year they were thrashed 4-0 in the Ashes Down Under and then they sunk to a new low when they were bowled out for 58 in the first Test against New Zealand in Auckland. They lost a Test series against New Zealand for the first time since 1999.
That was the trigger for the Test team, and Joe Root himself acknowledges as much.
“It felt like we had a breakthrough moment at the start of the Christchurch Test, where we sort of turned a corner,” he said.”We had a little blip in the first Test against Pakistan but since that moment we’ve gone on an upward curve.”
Since that Test match, when they were bowled out for 58, a lot has changed. Though England lost a couple of Test matches at home – one each against Pakistan and India – they’ve managed to do really well. Yes, bar a couple of them, their Test wins at home have been far from convincing, but every time they were put under pressure, they found a way. They found someone to bail them out.
But when they boarded the flight to Sri Lanka, there was one aim, and that was to correct the shoddy away record. It had been close to three years since England won an overseas Test series. They had unsuccessful tours to India, Australia and New Zealand, and they were even beaten by Bangladesh in one Test.
And here they are with a 2-0 lead in the three-match Test series. They’ve countered spin, their biggest nemesis, excellently. They’ve chalked up plans and the batters looked determined as ever. Skipper Joe Root led from the front and backed up all his talk of positive and aggressive intent as he struck his 15th Test century in the second innings of the second Test. And it came when England needed it the most.
England came well prepared for this tour. They had an answer to almost everything Sri Lanka threw at them, and when things didn’t go their way, they stuck to their plans.
“It’s very special. The guys have worked extremely hard,” Root said. “We’ve planned very well for it.
“We said we were going to play in a certain manner and we’ve backed that up completely in the two games. And that’s probably the most pleasing thing. We’ve stuck to our guns.”
(Visionhaus/Corbis via Getty Images)
The composition of England’s side is an interesting one. Jos Buttler and Adil Rashid’s inclusions were based on white-ball form. It was a risk England were taking, but it has paid off. Keaton Jennings, who had a terrific Test debut in India a couple of years ago, hadn’t done a lot since then but was constantly backed and finally came good.
There were some tough calls that were taken as well. Sam Curran was preferred over Stuart Broad in both Test matches, and Curran was a vital contributor with the bat in both games. Jonny Bairstow was made to sit out despite being fully fit as England rewarded Ben Foakes for an excellent debut.
But the most pleasing sight for Root and team management would’ve been the way the three spinners operated in tandem. Jack Leach, Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid have been brilliant in this series and have complemented each other beautifully. Leach has been a revelation and has provided Joe Root the control England’s been yearning for from a spinner in subcontinental conditions.
Root and England have played some really attacking cricket, especially with the bat. They’ve taken the attack to the opposition whenever they’ve been put under the pump. They swept their way out of trouble in the second innings of the second Test and that proved to be a game-changing idea.
This is a new England, a team which seems to have a different mindset. Root has taken his time to adjust to the role of a captain. He’s already has had his fair share of ups and downs as skipper but he’s shown he is constantly improving.
He now has the vision of making England the No.1 Test team in the world. It’s a tad too early to jump to conclusions, but this has been a brilliant turnaround by Root and co.
The tours to South Africa, India and Australia will have a huge say on how England have shaped up, but for now the series win in Sri Lanka looks like a big moment.
Johnny Barns
Guest
Mediocre knowledge of cricket.
George
Guest
Yawn.
Frankie Hughes
Guest
A troll? Grow up. I saw Root's innings and it consisted of wild slogs across the line as Root isn't capable of playing spin like Kohli and Smith. England are a mediocre side with a mediocre captain.
Homer Gain
Guest
Your plainly a troll who didn't watch the match. More generally, whilst it's been a pleasing performance from England, I'm not sure how relevant it will be to our summer. As some one has said, Sri Lanka are some way from their former glories, notwithstanding their comfortable recent victories over South Africa and Australia. One innings aside, Jennings remains suspect, even in these conditions. Burns is unproven and Mo Ali aside, none of the spinners will be playing much. There are choices to be made in the pace bowling front between Broad, Woakes and Curran with Olly Stone likely to come into the mix on pacier pitches. It would be nice to see Bairstow succeed at 3, but Olly Pope is also worth another go in future and I can also see Jason Roy being given a shot at some stage. Whatever England's flaws though, I still expect them to beat Australia comfortably in the Ashes (much less confident about the World Cup).
Frankie Hughes
Guest
Root merely slogged wildly in the second test and fortunately it came off for him. Root's a try hard but lacks the pure talent and skill of Smith and Kohli. Let's not forget this was only Root's fourth century away from home. He's toured Australia and New Zealand twice without getting a century. Root is overrated and along way behind Smith and Kohli.
Ozibatla
Guest
It is pretty strong but 3 all-rounders and 3 wicketkeepers in the one lineup seems abit unbalanced. I would be surprised if thats the way they went. Also recalling how Ali got England out of trouble, I thonk you mean 2015 ashes?
Paul
Roar Guru
You reckon? If you include the current England 1 & 2 in this list, only Root and Foakes average over 40 and most average about the same with this bowling as they do with their batting - mid 30's. Granted it's a stronger lineup than Australia currently has, but we're genuinely rebuilding, whereas these guys, with the exception of Foakes, have been around this lineup for more than 20 Tests each.
Nudge
Roar Rookie
That’s the thing with England, very ordinary top 3 but really strong in the mid to lower order which has got them out of jail for years now, even back to the 2013 ashes when Moeen Ali got them out of jail a number of times at no 8. That’s why I think it will be important to have an all rounder in the team for the ashes next year so the bowlers are still reasonably fresh when the no 6,7,8 and 9 come in. There team from no 3 could look like something like this next year 3 Bairstow 4 Root 5 Butler 6 Stokes 7 Foakes 8 Ali 9 Woakes That’s pretty strong
Ozibatla
Guest
An interesting dilemma for England selectors will be what to do with Woakes, Stokes and Ali. I dont think they can afford to have all three in the same side as it leaves them a specialist batsman short. With the emergence of Sam Curran, Woakes could be left out.
Ozibatla
Guest
Cummins could well be decent im English conditions. Just so long as he doesnt go on a bouncer crusade.
Sahil Jain
Roar Rookie
Whenever Moeen Ali has batted in the top 7, England have had 6 bowlers and that's the advantage this team has with Stokes in the side. But yes, they could do with an extra batsman.
Sahil Jain
Roar Rookie
Yes, the batting has been fragile and can be exposed. No. 3 has been an issue for quite some time now. Root seems the best fit but he feels he is more comfortable at 4. Let's wait and see, how things pan out.
Paul
Roar Guru
agree with everything you've writtren but the dark horse I think will be Cummins. He and Siddle could be very destructive over there.
Ozibatla
Guest
You can guarantee the pitches will be seam friendly. I think its imperative that we dont go in too pace heavy. By pace, Im referring to out and out quicks. It didnt work with Starc and Pattinson in 2013 and didnt work with Starc and Johnson in 2015. The slowness of the green seamers tends to nullify those types. Peter Siddle is just about done as an international bowler but I can see him playing one last role in this series. As for our bats, well unless something drastic changes, their hard hands are going to provide plenty of opportunities for the England slip cordon. Starc and Hazlewood are going to have to click as a bowling combination otherwise we dont stand a chance.
Paul
Roar Guru
re the Ashes, I think much depends on what attack we take over there, what the pitches are like and where our batting lineup goes in terms of stability and development. If we get the last two items right, I think we can be very competitive in England, especially if Warner, Bancroft and Smith are in the mix.
Ozibatla
Guest
I agree Ali and Stokes are not no 3 batsmen at test level. But I think what you will find is that in this series England liked the idea of having 6 bowlers in their lineup for these particular conditions. It weakened their batting lineup but it has proven a worth while risk at this stage. Your point of perspective is valid too. Sri-Lanka are rebuilding but Australia and South Africa wernt good enough to win there so it is still a good effort nonetheless. One things for sure, the Poms will be very hard to beat in next years ashes. I dont like our chances.
Paul
Roar Guru
England has played well, no argument, but let's bring some perspective into this issue. Sri Lanka are clearly in rebuilding mode, especially with their batting, so they were never going to make huge scores. Their bowling, once Herath left the scene, was okay but not great, yet only Root managed a decent score in the top order. Once again, England relied on it's lower order to get runs, principally guys like Curran. That's fine for a while, but number one sides in Test cricket, usually have their top 5 all averaging 40 plus and generally one guy averaging over 50. And who did England have batting number 3; Stokes, Ali, etc. I'm sorry, but that's a joke and says to me they don't have a genuine top class first drop in English cricket. Root and his team have every right to savour their victory overseas but he has to realise this side needs to improve mightily to move higher in the Test rankings, especially his batting.