Root hopeful of a 'magical performance' from Stokes as England prepare for day-night Ashes Test
- Sean Fisher
- 14 December 2021
As England prepare for the second Test in Adelaide, Root has admitted he expected too much from Stokes on his Ashes return, but is hopeful he can drop a 'magical performance' during the tour.
England's opening-day collapse has left them trailing Australia ahead of the second Test, but captain Joe Root has rallied his side by stating that their deflating experience at The Gabba is "as tough as it can get".
Ben Stokes returned from a five-month break to feature at Brisbane in the first Test, and his performance suggests he was feeling some rust.
He was dismissed for five and 14 with the bat, and his bowling didn't fare much better, with his 12 overs not producing a single wicket.
Clearly lacking match sharpness, Stokes will hope for a better outing on Thursday's day-night Test.
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After falling to defeat, Root admitted that he may have expected too much from Stokes on his return, "It was a huge ask for Ben last week and I'm probably guilty as much as anyone, I expected too much of him because I see him almost as a bit of a superhero.
"Look at what he's done in the last couple of years when he's played and at least once a series, maybe twice a series, he's done something extraordinary which has won a game on its own.
"You do get a little complacent about expecting that. It's easy to forget that on a big occasion like this whether it's because he's not played a huge amount or also what he's had to go through recently, I think there was a little bit too much on him.
"But you know the character he is, it will have motivated him even more now to put in one of those magical performances. Whether that comes this week or further down the series I know it's there. I know it's going to come, it's just when."
England are still yet to name their bowling attack for Thursday's Test, and with Root clearly wary of the workload placed on Stokes, they could instead opt for an all-pace attack led by the returning James Anderson and Stuart Broad.
It's a decision that Root isn't taking lightly, and speaking of his role as captain, the 30-year-old ensured he is ready to take reponsibility, "When you're captain, you're in charge and if you're not able to shoulder responsibility then you probably shouldn't be in that position," he said.
"There are big decisions you make on behalf of the whole team and you have to be able to shoulder them otherwise I don't think it is fair on the rest of the group. Part of being captain is being able to take that when it doesn't go your way.
"We're in the series now. It's not going to get any harder than that first day in Brisbane".
