Ashes 2013-14: Joe Root wants England to show some fight
Ashes 2013-14: Joe Root wants England to show fight after the tourists were left on 247-6 at the end of day four of the second Test
Joe Root has urged England to show some fight after Australia reduced the tourists to 247-6 to finish day four on the brink of securing a 2-0 Ashes series lead.
Australia declared overnight with a lead of 531 runs, and England openers Alastair Cook and Michael Carberry both fell cheaply before Joe Root (87) and Kevin Pietersen (53) showed some resistance.
We have to make sure we’re out there for as long as possible and make it as hard for Australia as possible
Joe Root
The pair were eventually ousted by Peter Siddle and Mitchell Johnson respectively, before Ian Bell and Ben Stokes also fell to leave the final four members of England’s batting line-up with a tough task.
The tourists must now bat throughout the final day – or receive some help from the weather – to prevent falling 2-0 behind in the series, and Root insisted England aren’t “going to lie down”.
“Everyone watching and playing knew we were in a battle. But we’re not going to lie down – we’re going to show some fight and courage,” said Root.
“We have a scrap on. We knew we had to front up and did to a certain extent. We have to do the same tomorrow.”
He added: “If there’s a bit of weather about it might help, but we’re up against it.
“We have to make sure we’re out there for as long as possible and make it as hard for Australia as possible.
“That’s going to have to continue for the rest of the series. We have to make sure that we put big scores on the scoreboard.”
