Don't be duped by prospect of pink ball moving, says Joe Root

GEORGE DOBELL: While Root is confident that the use of the pink ball in the day-night Test will provide his seamers with more assistance, he has reminded his team that for at least half the game, the Adelaide pitch will remain good for batting

Joe Root has urged his England side not to "fall into the trap" of thinking the pink ball will provide assistance to bowlers throughout the second Test.

While Root, the England captain, is confident that the use of the pink ball in the day-night Test will provide his seamers with a little more assistance, he has reminded his team that for at least half the game, the Adelaide pitch will remain flat and good for batting.

England have fallen into the trap of misjudging the amount of assistance the pink ball will provide before. In Ahmedabad earlier this year, for example, they selected a side containing four seamers (including Ben Stokes) and only one specialist spinner.

Those seamers claimed just one wicket between them with Root taking Test-best figures of 5 for 8. India's spinners claimed 19 wickets on their way to a 10-wicket victory.

England also chose to bowl first in the day-night Test on the Ashes tour of 2017/18. Australia amassed a first-innings total of 442 for 8 before declaring with the lights on and taking an early wicket as England began their reply.

Now Root is asking his side to learn the lessons from those experiences. In particular, he believes it is vital they recognise those moments when the ball starts to deviate under lights and adapt their games accordingly.

^{Joe Root is pondering team selection for the second Ashes Test (Mark Brake/Getty Images)}

"There will be periods of the game where the pink ball takes a more central role," Root said. "But one thing from our point of view is not overthinking that part of it.

"Yes, the pink balls swing and seam more. And we should be used to that [as it matches conditions in England] and we should be ready for it. But it's important to recognise when those periods come along.

"There will be two sessions where the sun can be out and it might not do as much. It's about not falling into the trap of thinking it's going to hoop round corners for five days, but understanding the different challenges that a pink ball Test at this ground takes and having plenty of options to still find ways of taking 20 wickets.

"Also, as a batting group, we have to manage those different phases and find ways to get through. Batting could be good for periods of the day but we have to recognise when the ball does start to move around."

The use of the pink ball has also complicated England's selection decisions. There is certainly a temptation to go into the game with four seamers (plus Stokes) and leave the spin bowling in the hands of Root.

But while he believes spin has been "a factor" in recent games on the ground – Nathan Lyon took a five-for against Pakistan in 2019 and Ravi Ashwin took a four-for in Australia's first-innings in 2020 – he insists the decision will not be made with a view to improving the over-rate.

England were penalised (they lost their entire match-fee and five World Test Championship points) for their tardy rate in Brisbane.

"Spin has been a factor in recent times on this ground, especially as the game progresses," Root said. "So, it's something we will have to look at and see how the team can be balanced out.

^{Jack Leach, left, and Stuart Broad are both under consideration (Mark Brake/Getty Images)}

"The over-rate situation doesn't influence selection. When we are that far behind the over-rate we have got to be quicker, we all know that. I'm not trying to make excuses but I think with the lack of preparation it probably was a bit more challenging coming into this heat and these conditions. But we still have to be quicker, we are fully aware of that."

Root also expressed his confidence in Rory Burns, who endured a miserable first Test. Burns' technique looked horribly out of synch when he was bowled by the first ball of the match having exposed his leg stump with a lunge to the off side, but he is England's second-highest run-scorer in the calendar year and scored an impressive 390 runs in the 2019 Ashes series in England.

As a consequence, Root feels Burns has the strength of character to bounce back in Adelaide.

"Rory is a very strong character," Root said. "One thing you can never doubt is that side of his game. He is someone who will get stuck in, he relishes a big occasion and a challenge and he stands up to it.

"If you look at his performances in the last Ashes series. He put in some really fine performances and played some great knocks. I've got no doubt about Rory in terms of his character. He will come back in and want a response and to put some big runs on the board."

It currently appears England are undecided about the selection of their side. While it would be a surprise if James Anderson did not return, it is possible Stuart Broad will have to wait a little longer.

Chris Woakes looks set to retain his place ahead of Mark Wood, who could be rested with a view to playing in the third Test, with Ollie Robinson perhaps the first seamer picked these days.

Ben Stokes bowled flat out in training on Tuesday with a view to proving his fitness with the ball.

^{Chris Woakes is likely to keep his place ahead of Mark Wood, right (Chris Hyde/Getty Images)}

Meanwhile Travis Head, the player of the match in the first Test, suggested the pitch in Adelaide would offer some help to spinners. Head, who plays his domestic cricket on the ground, said Nathan Lyon is “always near impossible to hit with the bounce and turn he can get from this wicket” and suggested Lloyd Pope, South Australia’s spinner, also enjoyed the surface. 

"Leach is definitely going to have opportunities throughout this series," he said. "This wicket is going to be one. It's probably going to be patchy and probably spin."

Head also suggested that David Warner should be fit to play. Warner didn't bat in Australia's second innings after sustaining a couple of blows to the ribs while batting.

"I flew home with him a couple of days ago," Head said. "And he felt like he was in a good space. Obviously he was a little bit sore, so we didn't take any risks [at Brisbane] with him only needing 20.

"He was going to bat but in the end our bowlers did a fantastic job to give him a day off. So I think for him it was just rest. I think he's ready to go. There are no issues for David."

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