The Ashes and a problem England and Joe Root could do without

Joe Root has confirmed a number of England players are awaiting further information from Cricket Australia and the Australian Government before committing to this winter’s Ashes tour.

It has been reported that as many as 10 members of the wider red-ball squad, some with children, have expressed reservations over making the trip for the Ashes. Australia’s regulations to Covid-19 quarantine for those travelling into the country from overseas are some of the strictest in the world.

There is also no exemption for elite athletes. Australia’s men are currently quarantining in south Australia following their return from white ball tours of West Indies and Bangladesh. The country’s Olympians had to quarantine upon returning from Tokyo, as well their Paralympians.

Given the amount of time England’s cricketers have racked up in quarantine and various bubbles, their reluctance is understandable, especially given how quickly the situation is changing in Australia with snap lockdowns across states. The first Test has been pencilled in to take place in Brisbane on 8 December.

“They are conversations we will have with the ECB,” said the England Test captain, when asked if there had been any further development after reports the players discussed the matter at Headingley last week.

“One thing we are waiting on is a little bit more information. Until we get that from Cricket Australia and their government, we just have to concentrate on this series and make sure that doesn’t become a distraction.

“I think it’s really important we keep talking about it as a squad, and a team, working closely with the ECB. There is still a lot to consider. We will keep trying to do everything we can to keep good communication through the right channel.”

Naturally, there has been dialogue between English and Australian players regarding the current situations they are enduring across the country. The death toll in the country has just moved into four figures because of the delta variant. Modest compared to the rest of the world, especially the United Kingdom where over 132,000 have died from the virus, but still a concern. As are the daily infections, which are surging to record highs. At the time of writing, 34.8 per cent of over 16s have received both doses of the vaccine.

“There are a few things we could do without right now,” said Root on the ongoing uncertainty. “But that’s part and parcel of things and how they are at the moment. You have to just take it in your stride as a team. Sometimes things like this can bring you closer as a group and create a strong bond, and hopefully we can manage that in the right way and use it as an advantage.”

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Ahead of the England men’s side fourth Test against India, beginning at the Oval on Thursday, Root was also asked about comments former captain Michael Vaughan made about his stock as a captain. Root overtook Vaughan as the Test side’s most successful leader, with victory in the third Test at Headingley taking the 30-year old on to 27 wins out of 55, one ahead of his mentor. He could bring daylight between the two with victory at the Oval, which would put England 2-1 up and favourites to seal the series win against a brilliant Indian side.

Vaughan, however, felt Root needs to win an Ashes before being classified as a “great” England captain. He has currently overseen two - a 4-0 away defeat in 2017/18 and a 2-2 draw in 2019.

The sentiment was echoed by England coach, Chris Silverwood on Sunday, when asked about what merited greatness. “It’s great that Joe has got that record, nobody can take that away from him, he has achieved that. If we win the Ashes we can have this conversation again.”

Root broadly agreed. However, he insisted doing the best by his side, whoever their opponent, matters most to him.

“I think as an England captain you are always judged slightly on how you do in Ashes cricket,” he said. “I think more than anything I need to make sure we win this series (against India) first. It’s a huge series for us. Then we will turn our attention to Australia, something we have been planning for for a long time.

“It’s certainly something that everyone wants to do, go to Australia and win, whether as a captain or a player. It’s something you are desperate to have in your career, something to experience.

“In terms of what other people think of me as a captain, it’s sort of irrelevant. My job is to do the best I possibly can for the period I have in the role. That will never change. I’ll give everything to the team, everything to the squad of players and if at the end of it that’s not good enough for some people, I’ll have done everything I can and I can be proud of that.”