ICC World Cup 2019 | We have opportunity to recreate Ashes ‘05 scenes on different level, says Joe Root
Joe Root believes England have the opportunity to recreate the magical summer of 2005, when they won the Ashes at home if they can knock over the same enemy 14 years later in the World Cup on home soil. England, who finished third in the league stage, will play Australia, at Edgbaston on Thursday.
The summer of ‘05 will forever be remembered in the English cricket history as the year they finally won the Ashes against their arch-nemesis after 18 years. The English charge led by Andrew Flintoff still remains one of the most epic battles in cricket. It did wonders for cricket in the country, as viewership grew dramatically in the following years. Now, as England face Australia in the World Cup semi-final, also on home soil, Root believes it is time to recreate that magic.
"I think it is one of the most pleasing things that you can do as a sportsman, I can remember that 2005 Ashes as a kid and really being absorbed in that whole series at 14 years old, it was magical. And for us to have a similar opportunity on a slightly different scale maybe, is very exciting. It is great that this group of players are playing their part in getting people interested and it would be brilliant if we could take that even further by doing what we have done in the last couple of games,” Root said in an interview with Channel 4, reported Cricbuzz.
Ahead of the clash, which will be England’s first World Cup semi-final since 1992, Australian spin bowler Nathan Lyon said that the host nation has more to lose if they fail on the big day. However, Root diffused the comments and emphasised that the experienced campaigners in their team will help the nerves on the day.
"Nathan has a lot to say a lot of the time, so for me, you just take it with a pinch of salt. It is extremely exciting. Guys who have been involved in high profile series, or World Cups or Champions Trophies before, having those experiences in the bank will definitely help. Managing all that over the next couple of days will be important so that when the game comes round it is normal service resumed,” Root said.
Coming into the semi-finals, one has to say that the hosts are riding on higher levels of confidence. They dealt with two do-or-die games rather well, winning both, while Australia slipped up in their final league game to hand India the table toppers spot. Root firmly believes his team can use the momentum to go all the way.
“We're full of confidence, we've managed pressure well to get to this point, coping with two must win games, so I feel like we are as ready as we ever have been to take on this challenge," Root added.
Root, who is England’s top run-scorer with the bat, credited the work done by the team management, head coach Trevor Bayliss, and captain Eoin Morgan in getting the team to play the brand of exciting cricket that has lifted them to top of the ODI rankings.
"One of the things about this team is that when we play well, it is good to watch, it is entertaining cricket and it will get people engrossed in cricket, which is credit to Morgs and to Trevor. Also credit to Andrew Strauss for the groundwork that he put in to see how we could give ourselves the best chance of success and how that could be something people want to follow and be interested in," Root added.
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