It’s been a tour from hell for Joe Root’s beleaguered team, succumbing to three heavy defeats which rendered the last two Tests in Melbourne and Sydney “dead rubbers”. Starc uncertain for fourth Ashes TestSeveral other under-performing senior players, notably Alastair Cook, Stuart Broad and Moeen Ali, have also been under the gun as some critics call for their axing. Vaughan, Willis warn England of another Ashes whitewash“We don’t just owe him (Root), we owe ourselves as well,” said Bairstow. The Australian skipper is gunning for his fourth consecutive Melbourne Test century after hundreds against Pakistan, the West Indies and India in the last three Boxing Day showpieces. There will be some respite for England, with Australian pace spearhead Mitchell Starc ruled out on Sunday with a bruised heel and replaced by Jackson Bird.

Source: The Express Tribune December 25, 2017 06:45 UTC