London
Joe Root has urged his England team to be “braver” and to free themselves from fear in the fourth and final Test against India starting on Thursday.
The tourists have sustained heavy defeats in the past two matches — by 317 runs in Chennai and 10 wickets in a chastening two-day finish in Ahmedabad — but can still draw the series 2-2.
Ever since Root’s double century in the series opener paved the way for a score of 578 and a landmark win, England have struggled against spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel.
Root’s side have been bowled out for 134, 164, 112 and 81 but he wants his team to stop being paralysed by worry and try to land a few more blows of their own.
“We’ve got all the ingredients, all the pieces and all the skills to exploit and succeed in these conditions,” he said. “It is important we harness that, have it in the front of our mind and be a bit braver actually, play with a little bit more freedom.—AFP
