Root flat out after heat gets to captain
STRICKEN captain Joe Root was hailed as a brilliant skipper who had led by example despite England sinking yesterday to a fourth defeat of another Ashes debacle down under.
Root was asleep in the Sydney Cricket Ground dressing room when the Aussies lifted the replica urn having completed another huge victory by an innings and 123 runs.
Root had to go to hospital in the morning suffering severe dehydration from a bout of gastroenteritis. He was back at the ground before the start of play, but did not resume his innings until the fall of the first wicket after an hour’s play.
The England skipper, clearly struggling, lasted until lunch when he was 58 not out. But he was not well enough to carry on afterwards. And the Aussies quickly wrapped up the four remaining wickets with Root no longer around to hold up the inevitable fourth victory of this onesided series.
After the crowd had dispersed, Root travelled back to the England hotel with the team doctor. It is understood that he caught the virus from his one-yearold son Alfie, who has been ill recently.
England vice captain James Anderson said about Root: ‘He’s not had any sleep and he’s not eaten. He’s had diarrhoea and he’s been vomiting. He’s not in a great state. It’s some sort of bug and the heat from the last couple of days has taken its toll.
‘So to get to the ground in itself is a great effort. Then to strap on his pads and get out there and bat for as long as he did, I thought that was a brilliant effort.
‘It shows his strength of character. He wants to lead by example and has been a fantastic captain throughout the tour. It demonstrates exactly what sort of person he is to make that effort to get out there. I just hope it’s not too serious and he can sleep it off, rehydrate and be ready for the one-dayers.’
Anderson also praised Root for the way he has carried himself during a torrid five Tests in Australia.
‘It has ben extremely difficult tour for him, you ask any captain who has toured Australia. It is not an easy place to come especially when you are on the wrong end of results. But the way he has conducted himself is a real credit to himself.’