England captain Joe Root wants Sri Lanka whitewash to end difficult year on a high

Three and easy: Joe Root wants England to wrap up a series whitewash in Colombo
REUTERS
Chris Stocks22 November 2018

Joe Root is confident England can finish a difficult year for the Test team with a 3-0 series whitewash.

The tourists, 2-0 up ahead of Friday's final Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo, will end 2018 ranked second in the world, regardless of the result at the Sinhalese Cricket Club.

It would be a triumphant end to a year that started with captain Root being hospitalised after contracting a viral infection during a Sydney Test that ended with him asleep in the dressing room as Australia romped to an innings win and 4-0 Ashes series victory. Defeat in New Zealand followed, extending England’s winless run overseas to a record 13 Tests.

But, after a drawn home series with Pakistan, things have taken an upward curve as India, ranked No1 in the world, were defeated 4-1 at home before this series win in Sri Lanka.

“It’s been quite a journey for this group of players in the Test team,” said Root. “We did start in difficult circumstances and we weren’t playing our best cricket, but we’ve found a way to get to a really strong position.

“There have been a few changes along the way, but as a group we’ve found a way we want to go about things and it’s been really pleasing everyone has bought into that and given us a great opportunity to now, hopefully, win this series 3-0.”

Australia, in 2004, and India, last year, are the only teams to have whitewashed Sri Lanka 3-0 in a home Test series. Both were ranked No1 in the world at the time and Root knows the significance of his side emulating that achievement ahead of the tour of the West Indies early next year.

“It would be massive for this team,” he said. “We’ve played some good cricket over this winter and it would be a good opportunity to show we can be more consistent.

“Also, there’s only been two other sides who have won 3-0 out here in Test cricket so it would be a brilliant achievement and fill us with a huge amount of confidence going into the rest of the winter.”

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