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Agence France-Presse

Captain Joe Root put the focus firmly on winning the Ashes in Australia after England levelled their home series on Sunday, saying he was “desperate” to take the team forward.
England won at The Oval by 135 runs in the fifth and final Ashes test to tie the series at 2-2, ending their historic World Cup-winning season on a high.
It meant the series finished in a draw for the first time since 1972, although holders Australia retain the urn.
Root described the summer as “a huge success for English cricket” after their World Cup triumph in July.


He said the foundations were in place for England to build on, praising Rory Burns for his contributions at the top of the order and paceman Jofra Archer, who only made his test debut last month.
“Throughout the whole series we’ve shown a lot of character,” said Root, who described 2-2 as a fair result.
Hopefully that will be a massive stepping stone and starting point for us to really kick on as a team now
Joe Root
“At times we’ve been out-skilled ... but we’ve always fought very hard and that’s a very pleasing thing,” he said.
“Hopefully that will be a massive stepping stone and starting point for us to really kick on as a team now.”
The Ashes will next take place in Australia in 2021-22 and Root said he was “in it for the long haul”.
“I’m desperate to take this team forward,” said the skipper.
“I’m in a very privileged position to be captain of the test team and I’ll do everything I can to get us very well prepared for going down there and hopefully doing something very special.”

A superb effort from Joe Root

The @englandcricket Test captain has competed in 24 international fixtures over the course of the summer - the most ever by any England cricketer over the same period. #Ashes pic.twitter.com/UU3CVDJ5wQ
— PCA (@PCA) September 15, 2019

Root said the performance in the fifth test was a “blueprint” of how he wanted his team to play but there was still room for improvement.
“You look at this week in particular,” he said. “It looks as like we just started to really get to grips with test cricket after a very long period of one-day cricket.
“We’ve got a period now and an opportunity in the next two-and-a-half years to really push and do everything we can to prepare extremely well for that tour of Australia so that’s going to be a huge focus for me and I like to hope for English cricket.”


Joe Root plots England Ashes success in Australia after series draw secured by Oval win

Captain Tim Paine proud of Australia despite defeat in fifth Ashes test of tied series

The Ashes 2019: ‘we urned it’ – Australian pride restored in fourth test triumph over brave England

The Ashes: Australia reviewing DRS process after Headingley howler, says captain Tim Paine

The Ashes

England captain Joe Root (left) and Australia skipper Tim Paine hold the Ashes trophy during the presentation ceremony on the fourth day of the fifth Ashes test. Photo: AFP

Australia’s Tim Paine holds up the Ashes urn as Australia celebrate retaining the Ashes. Photo: Reuters

Australia retained the Ashes with victory in the fourth test at Old Trafford on Sunday. Photo: Reuters

Cricket - Ashes 2019 - Fourth Test - England v Australia - Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - September 8, 2019 England's Joe Root looks dejected after Australia win the match and retain the Ashes Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine

Sport

Cricket


Series ends 2-2 as Australia retain the urn in England; first drawn series since 1972
Next Ashes series takes place in Australis through winter 2021-22



Series ends 2-2 as Australia retain the urn in England; first drawn series since 1972.


Joe Root plots England Ashes success in Australia after series draw secured by Oval win

Series ends 2-2 as Australia retain the urn in England; first drawn series since 1972 Next Ashes series takes place in Australis through winter 2021-22

Series ends 2-2 as Australia retain the urn in England; first drawn series since 1972

Next Ashes series takes place in Australis through winter 2021-22