Joe Root says England ready for Ireland after ’emotional’ World Cup win
Written by News on 24/07/2019
Joe Root does not expect England’s dramatic World Cup win to negatively impact his side in the four-day Test against Ireland.
England will face Ireland at Lord’s from Wednesday, just 10 days on from their title-sealing victory over New Zealand at the same venue in a game that went to a Super Over.
This week’s Test will be followed by five more against Australia from August 1 as England look to regain the Ashes – and Root says the white-ball success will boost the red-ball team.
“It is something we addressed as a squad,” Test captain Root told reporters when asked about moving on from the World Cup triumph.
“We knew that after such an emotional final, in particular, that it was important we got our heads round this week and what is to come.
“We addressed it very early at the [weekend training camp] and feel that off the back of that everyone is very aware of the challenges ahead of us.
“You have to look at it from a different way and say we couldn’t be better placed in many ways. There is a huge amount of confidence coming off the back of that .
“That counts for a lot. It’s something we have to ride the wave of and capitalise on going on to what is a huge six Test matches.
“We don’t want to sleepwalk into this. I don’t want anyone walking into it and not being 100 per cent on. The message to the squad is to play with a huge amount of pride and passion.
“It’s a great chance to lay a marker down and put a statement out there. The intensity of this week will set the tone for the rest of the summer.
“As long as we apply ourselves in the right manner and go into this game exactly like that then we’ll give a good account of ourselves.
“There are different challenges this summer to previous ones, but it’s a very exciting chance and there’s a huge carrot at the end of it for everyone involved.”
Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Joe Denly, Sam Curran, Jack Leach and Olly Stone, not part of England’s World Cup squad, are in the 11 to face Ireland, with Warwickshire paceman Stone to make his Test debut.
“We are lucky to have guys who are fresh, ready and full of energy to help out and take a little bit more responsibility in areas away from cricket,” added Root.
Jason Roy will also make his Test bow against Ireland, opening the batting alongside Surrey team-mate Burns, but seamer James Anderson (calf) misses out, while Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes are rested.
Root also says that Ireland – who beat England during the 2011 World Cup and gave them a scare in an ODI at Malahide in June – fully warrant their outing at Lord’s and that his team will not be underestimating the threat posed by William Porterfield’s men.
The Test will be the third in the visitors’ history after defeats to Pakistan at home in May 2018 and Afghanistan in India in March of this year.
“They are a side that has always performed well and probably over-performed at times,” added the England captain. “I hope that does not sound like I’m underestimating them or not giving a fair shout.
“They have upset sides like England in previous World Cups and run us close at the start of the year. Their Test against Pakistan was brilliant – I thought they played really well and proved that they deserved Test status.
“It is great that they get this chance, it is great for Test cricket, it is great for the game that more sides like Ireland are playing more consistently in this format. I think they have earned the right to get this fixture, absolutely.”
Watch England against Ireland, live on Sky Sports Cricket (channel 404) from 10am on Wednesday.
(c) Sky News 2019: Joe Root says England ready for Ireland after ’emotional’ World Cup win
