Ashes 2019 | Joe Root and Ben Stokes going forward are in a good position, says coach Trevor Bayliss
England Cricket head coach Trevor Bayliss is of the opinion that captain Joe Root is 'under no pressure at all' after the defeat in the fourth Test at Old Trafford. Bayliss has also emphasized that players like Root and all-rounder Ben Stokes will be the ones taking the game forward for England.
Trevor Bayliss, whose four-year term as England coach comes to an end after the conclusion of Ashes 2019, has backed Joe Root to remain as Test captain even after the end of the series. After four years of association with the England Cricket team, Bayliss will be in charge for the final time when England take on Australia on Thursday for the fifth Ashes Test at The Oval.
Bayliss will be ending a four-year term that saw England win their maiden 50-over World Cup win this summer, however, the team has been unable to imprint the same stability on the Test side. England as hosts have failed to reclaim the Ashes since previous season winners Australia took a 2-1 lead in the series in Manchester. Calls for Root's resignation have been everywhere ever since but Bayliss has attested that the 28-year-old will continue in the immediate future.
"He's not come under question from anyone making any decisions," Bayliss said on Tuesday (September 10). "He's under no pressure at all."
"Everyone goes through periods where they don't score as many runs as they'd like. I think the Australian team have bowled pretty well to him, so we'll see how things go further down the line. From my point of view, he was our premier batter and the Australians always try and target the opposition captain. He's played well when he's got starts and I don't see too many problems," Bayliss was quoted saying by Cricbuzz.
The departing coach feels that the key for Root would be "to go into the lion's den and win an Ashes series" in Australia. And for that, he believes, Root has the capability but also feels that the captain needs the support of his players. He feels that besides Root himself, the team needs players like Ben Stokes to step up and take them forward.
"Sometimes you can only be as good as the players you've actually got in the team. We're probably still looking for a number of players to make that XI as strong as it possibly can be. He's doing everything he possibly can to make that right.
"But I think he's getting better all the time. And some of the guys he's got with him are going be important: people like Ben Stokes. Those two guys going forward are in a good position. Right now I can't see too many others that would suit the job. But those two together can take this team forward."
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