Former captains blast England for crushing defeat, Root defends

Photo: AFP

New Delhi: What started out as smooth sailing soon turned out to be a treacherous journey for newly appointed captain Joe Root as he was taken aback by the harsh criticism after England’s crushing 340-run defeat to South Africa in the second Test at Trent Bridge.

A distraught Root on Monday, rubbished former England captain Michael Vaughan's claims that his side had ‘failed to respect Test cricket’ during the second Test.

"I think that's very unfair -- I can't believe he's actually said that.

"We pride ourselves on winning series like this, and unfortunately we've played poorly this week," Root said.

Vaughan, who is now a commentator with BBC Radio's Test Match Special, was distressed when England lost seven wickets for 62 runs in the first innings to be bowled out in little 51.5 overs for 205 in reply to the Proteas' 335.

Root's 78 was England’s only glimmer of hope throughout the game.

"The England batting has been appalling," said the Ashes winning captain, who played alongside Root's father Matt at the Sheffield Collegiate Club in Yorkshire and has been Joe’s old mentor since he was a boy.

He further added, "Maybe it's a lack of respect about what the game is, they look like they are playing a Twenty20 game. They have this approach of attack, attack, attack. There is no thought or feeling of seeing off a bowler or wearing a team down."

England's second innings was even more shambolic, being bowled out for just 133 in pursuit of a world-record target of 474 with more than a day to spare on Monday as South Africa made a thrilling comeback into the four-match series by leveling it at 1-1.

This was England's sixth defeat in their last eight Tests and Root, in charge for just the most recent two, was taken aback by Vaughan's comments.

Vaughan was not the only heavyweight former cricketer to criticize England’s dismal show. Legendary all-rounder Ian Botham and former captain Nasser Hussain have also called for major changes in England’s side.

“The four guys under threat are Jennings, who looks horribly out of nick, Ballance, who still can't crack Test cricket, Liam Dawson - what's his role in the side? - and Mark Wood, who looks like he is carrying an injury," Hussain said.

While dismissing Vaughan’s remarks, Root however accepted that his side needs to learn to adapt as per the match situation, regardless of what is the composition of the team.

"We need to make sure we learn quickly ... (so that) if we are in a similar situation (in the third Test) at The Oval, for example, we play it slightly smarter," said Root.

"Part of Test cricket is trying to find a balance of both (attack and defence) -- and even if it's not your strength, you build it into your natural game," added the world’s second best test batsmen.

"You have periods where you can absorb a bit of pressure and find the right moment to apply it when chances come along.

"We are capable of doing it and have done it previously, but this wasn't a very good example of it."

Root, who led England to a 211 -run win at Lord's in his first Test as skipper, defined this loss as a wakeup call.

"I definitely feel older -- it's been a tough week," he conceded.

"South Africa responded very well from Lord's – and especially with the bat, we didn't assess the situation well enough in the first innings. After that, we couldn't find a way to get back into the game."