Root lauds England’s ‘bouncebackability’
England were outplayed in the first two Tests, in Barbados and Antigua, where they lost by 381 runs and 10 wickets respectively. But Root led England’s fightback in St Lucia with a magnificent hundred, which alongside Mark Wood’s five-wicket haul, underpinned England’s 232-run win on the fourth day.
James Anderson and Moeen Ali took three wickets each on day four to help England to a 232-run win in the third Test against Windies. #WIvENG REPORT ➡️https://t.co/BxvtPo1mLO pic.twitter.com/L88Avwhw96
— ICC (@ICC) February 12, 2019
"It was nice to finish with a win," Root said on Tuesday, 12 February. "It's been a tough old tour and we played some poor cricket at times, but I thought this week we played really well. We have to learn from some of the mistakes, but we also have to look at the things we've done well – and we did plenty of that this week."
Root stressed the importance of England’s fight in light of an important summer, featuring the 2019 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, followed by a home Ashes series. "It was really important we won this week. There are very big games around the corner, whether it's World Cup cricket or the Ashes, and for this team to show that bouncebackability and strength of character holds us in good stead heading into a high-pressure summer,” he said.
Root put England’s win in perspective by drawing comparisons to the previous winter, when England lost 4-0 to Australia in the 2017-18 Ashes, and 1-0 to New Zealand.
“It has been much more what we are about," Root told Sky Sports."To play in the manner we have, coming back from two disappointing games, was massive going into what is a really important summer.
In England's second innings, Joe Root made a brilliant 122 – his 16th Test hundred
"Winning four out of six games is a big improvement on last winter, so I think we are moving forward as a team. It is nice to finish on a high even though we have lost the series."
The England captain reserved special praise for Wood, who set up England’s victory with his maiden five-wicket haul in the West Indies first innings. Hitting speeds upwards of 92mph, Wood helped pack off the Windies for 154. It gave England a 123-run first-innings lead, and the home team never recovered thereafter.
Mark Wood was named Player of the Match for his brilliant spell
"I don't think I've ever stood that far back at slip before," Root said. "And I'm still nursing a hole in my hand from the first one I clung on to. It's a great story. To go away and work how he has with England Lions and find really good form, he should be really proud of what he did this week.
"It was great to see him unleash himself and bowl with that pace and freedom, and that enjoyment as well. You always feel you'll get the best out of Woody when he's enjoying himself.
“We might have to be smart about how we use him. It's a learning curve for me, I am by no means the finished article as captain."