Joe Root adamant Test series draw in India would represent successful winter for England

NICK HOWSON: The captain believes a record of four wins from six would be an encouraging return from the winter, should the tourists prevail in the fourth Test in Ahmedabad

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Joe Root says England are motivated by the prospect of securing a 2-2 series draw in India if they can prevail in the fourth and final Test in Ahmedabad.

Though hopes of reaching the World Test Championship final and becoming the first side to beat Virat Kohli's men in their back yard since 2012 are over, there remains plenty to play for according to the skipper.

India are protecting a record of 12 straight home series wins in a row while England have not lost the final Test of a bilateral series since the 2017-18 Ashes in Australia.

"I think it would be a very good tour, look at India's record at home since 2012: no side's come here and won," said Root, whose side won 2-0 in Sri Lanka. "To come here and draw would be a fantastic result.

"It's a great motivator. It's a really important Test match for us. We've played some really good cricket this winter until now and if you look at where our side was a few years ago to say we've won six of our last eight in Asia shows the development in this side and what we are capable of.

^{The tourists once again have plenty to ponder}

"The guys have to take that confidence forward and, if we get a chance to get ahead, really make it count like in the first game of the series."

Inevitably, central to England's hopes will be how they tackle India's spin threat. Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel have taken 42 wickets between them in the series, with the latter having only played the last two.

After Lasith Embuldeniya enjoyed success in Galle, another slow left-Armer in the form of Axar has proved to be the scourge of England with his 18 scalps coming at 9.44.

Root has denied England have taken the 27-year-old lightly and has urged his teammate to trust their defence and get on the front-foot - something they failed to do in the second and third Test thrashings.

"I don't think we've underestimated him," he explained. "I think that he's exploited the surfaces very well, and been able to beat both edges of the bat which for any spinner is exactly what you're looking for all the time. You're trying to keep as many modes of dismissal in the game as possible. He's done that very well.

^{The fourth Test will once again be played in front of a 50 per cent crowd at the Narendra Modi Stadium}

"What we've got to be better at is we've got to make sure we're covering our stumps, more so with our bat, and if one goes past the outside edge then we just have to accept that.

"We've got to find ways of putting them back under pressure and that when we do get balls to score off we need to make sure we put them away. Similarly, if there are opportunities to get off strike and get back down the other end, make it difficult for them to bowl six balls at us.

"It is very easy when you're playing in alien conditions to overanalyse and overhype things. You've got to look at the basics of the game and that treats you so well wherever you play and trust them. That's the most important thing."

Head coach Chris Silverwood admitted last week that forensic analysis of India's series win in Australia is already being used to help England plan for their own trip Down Under at the end of the year.

And as far as the structure of the squad is concerned, Root believes the current personnel are likely to be those entrusted with winning back the urn.

"I think we're not far away from it," the Yorkshireman added. "We've still got plenty of games between now and then and it's important we use them extremely well. 

"All the time this group of players is gaining experience, spending time together, understanding different pressure situations and environments and evolving all the time.

"When you have that togetherness and have been together for a period of time, you generally see improvement. I think that's the case with the current squad of players.

"Nothing is definite but the guys who have been in and around the squad are in a very good place. If we look after the next game and the one after that, that gives us the best chance when the Ashes comes around."

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