Ashes 2021: Shane Warne says there is no rift between Joe Root and England players

Don’t listen to any talk about Joe Root losing the players. They play for him and they are right behind him, writes Shane Warne.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 19: Joe Root of England looks on as he walks off the field during day four of the Second Test match in the Ashes series between Australia and England the at Adelaide Oval on December 19, 2021 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)

So here we are at the Boxing Day Test, the pinnacle of the summer, and things couldn’t have gone much worse so far for England.

It’s been interesting to see how things have unfolded given they had so long to prepare. It’s also left a few of us watching the game scratching our heads – especially the selections for Brisbane and Adelaide.

England are 2-0 down with three Tests to play in an Ashes series.

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There’s been a few niggles, way too many no balls and dropped catches, plus England haven’t got the rub of the green. To be fair, England haven’t played well enough to this point to deserve the rub of the green.

But England have an opportunity on the biggest stage of them all and one of the biggest days in the Australian sporting calendar, if not the biggest on a global level for Australia, to turn it all around.

England are down, but not out. Picture: AFP

There’s no point re-hashing what’s happened. That doesn’t change where they are.

So what can England do to get back into this series and keep it alive?

If I was Joe Root and coach Chris Silverwood, I’d be making a demand of everyone to get a lot more aggressive. That’s in their tactics, their body language, and the whole attitude to the game, and get in the face of the Aussies.

England has not put Australia under any real big time pressure in the opening two Tests.

England has to pick a team that is going to be aggressive and covers every scenario. A draw is no good to England here in Melbourne. It’s a must-win game or Australia retain the urn.

To win at the MCG they need to make changes and bring in fresh players who are champing at the bit to show what they’ve got.

You can’t go with the same openers. You need Zak Crawley. Rory Burns has been OK, although Mitchell Starc looks like he has his number. Hameed has fought hard. But one of them has got out in the first four overs every time in four innings.

So in comes Zak Crawley, Mark Wood and a spinner and they have to go after Australia.

My England team would be Rory Burns, Zak Crawley, Dawid Malan, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Mark Wood, Stuart Broad, Jimmy Anderson, and Jack Leach.

Zak Crawley has been waiting in the wings. Picture: Getty Images

Yes, there’s a bit of a tail there, but this is the best variety in their attack. Yes, Ollie Robinson is STIFF to miss out as he’s bowled well. But it’s time to go for experience and for all the senior boys to deliver and inspire the group.

Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson must deliver at the mighty MCG.

England has to take 20 wickets to win and stay alive in the series. I think this team has a chance to do that and making big innings runs is a non-negotiable. It’s a must.

I’d be telling their batters to get after the Australian attack; don’t let Nathan Lyon settle, go after him. Get through the new ball, then fill your boots. England have to be brave this Test.

After the first day in both the opening two Tests, England have been on the back foot. They have lost both opening days.

England must win day one at the MCG, whether that’s batting first and making a big score, or taking a lot of Australian wickets.

UNITED FRONT

There’s been suggestions that the England players look divided and not a unit. I call BS on that as you can’t underestimate the restrictions they are under and have been for nearly two years. The Aussies have not played Test cricket since January. This is significant as long tours being away from family and loved ones takes its toll. These tours are about having fun together which runs onto the field. It’s hard to create that sense of togetherness and fun under the current restrictions.

We have to thank all the players from both teams for the sacrifices they are making and have made for this series to happen.

England players and staff can only eat dinner in threes, have to eat outside, there are limitations that stop them doing so many of the things English players look forward to doing when they come to Australia – getting out and about, lunches together, playing golf together etc.

England have been put under tough restrictions since landing in Australia. Picture: Getty Images

They agreed to come thinking they would have a bit more freedom, but have been reigned in since they got here. That’s gone against them as well.

After Adelaide there were ructions about Joe Root, and his relationship with his bowlers.

I know Joe Root. He’s a lovely guy, a gentleman and one of the world’s best and most respected batters. Don’t listen to any talk about him losing the players. He has all the support and respect of his teammates. They play for him; they are right behind him.

They’ve just got some tactical stuff wrong and Joe was venting his frustration when he spoke about the bowlers and their lengths in Adelaide. The bowlers were trying their best, they just didn’t get it right. That happens.

I like that they vented some frustrations. It doesn’t mean they suddenly don’t like each other, or don’t respect each other. That’s all nonsense. You want them to be honest. It’s going to make them better. I thought it showed they cared.

And just looking at the last day in Adelaide, they could have folded pretty quickly in those conditions. It was spinning for Nathan Lyon, the Aussies were on top.

But Jos Buttler’s innings showed there is fight there. He showed his teammates that they could be tough, they could really hang tough. Ben Stokes may not have fired yet, but he’ll come good. Maybe it will be at the Boxing Day Test, with 80,000 PLUS people. The occasion will bring out his and the other senior player’s best.

I think now though, after two Tests, England have to put everything that has happened behind them and start fresh. For England now it’s a three Test series, and they have to win them all. The best way to do that is by picking the right team, being aggressive and winning day one at the MCG.

Melbourne’s Colosseum awaits Day One. Picture: Getty Images

AUSSIES ARE BACK

I’ve said this before, but after last summer, teams stopped fearing Australia. I think that hurt the players.

They lost two of the past three home series and after the criticism they copped, they got grumpy with it and have come out with an attitude to rectify that.

The Ashes normally brings out the best in both teams, but it absolutely has in all the Aussie players. Their all-round intensity and effort is there and they are playing as well as they can.

It’s great to see Mitchell Starc has his mojo back, rocking it with the pink ball, taking big wickets and bowling fast, taking responsibility with Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood out.

Maybe Pat Cummins, Justin Langer and the selectors can send me a Xmas card to say thanks for firing Mitch up with my comments before the series about leaving him out of the Brisbane Test!

Nathan Lyon is back bowling his best after taking his 400th wicket. I love the contest between him and Joe Root.

The Aussies are back to their best. Picture: Getty Images

Travis Head is getting big runs too, making him a pretty strong fourth among David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne, the new number one batter in the world, and Steve Smith. Australia’s batting is finally looking strong and Green will fire soon as he’s good.

Australia certainly look in a good place, but they haven’t been truly tested yet or put under any big pressure.

Australia has to send a message to the rest of the world that says “we’re back”, back to being one of if not the best team in the world by keeping their foot on England’s throat, to keep them down.

They have to want a whitewash.

A more aggressive England and Australia keeping the pressure on should equal a mouthwatering Boxing Day Test.

For us Victorian people who have gone through so much the last two years, let’s show why we are the sporting capital of the world, and pack the MCG for what hopefully is a fantastic contest.