Joe Root Celebrates Historic Test Win in Australia Despite Personal Disappointment
Historic Victory for England in Melbourne
Melbourne, Australia - December 27: Joe Root, the seasoned England cricketer, finally achieved a Test victory on Australian soil with the win at the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. However, he expressed regret over not being able to contribute a significant score to secure the win for his team. He also praised young all-rounder Jacob Bethell for his impressive performance during the match.
Bethell, seen as a potential successor to the legendary Ben Stokes, showcased his talent with a commendable 40 runs at number three, helping England avoid a series whitewash in front of a packed Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
Root, who recently celebrated his first Test century in Australia, found some solace in this victory despite the overall loss of the Ashes series. He is now focused on surpassing Sachin Tendulkar's record of 15,921 runs, which would further solidify his legacy as one of the greatest Test players.
In the post-match presentation, Root shared his disappointment about the series loss but acknowledged the team's resilience and bravery on a challenging pitch, where 20 wickets fell on the first day and 16 on the second.
"Losing a series is always tough, but it was crucial for us to demonstrate character throughout the series. The past two days have been enjoyable for the team, and we adapted well to the conditions, seizing every opportunity. Our approach with the bat showed bravery, making it a worthy Test match," he stated.
Reflecting on his leg-before-wicket dismissal by Jhye Richardson, Root expressed his frustration, saying, "It's disappointing to get out at that stage, but we aimed to take responsibility and lead the team to victory. Winning is what matters most, and I'm proud of the lads, especially those on their first tour. It's vital to learn from this experience and carry that confidence forward."
Aside from his 138* in the pink-ball Test at Brisbane, Root struggled in the series, accumulating only 96 runs in his other seven innings, with a top score of 39.
"Jacob Bethell was outstanding. His conviction and intelligence at the crease made it difficult for the bowlers. It requires bravery, skill, and courage to perform as he did, and I believe he has a bright future ahead in international cricket," Root concluded.
In the match, England won the toss and chose to bowl first. Josh Tongue made history by taking England's first-ever five-wicket haul in a Boxing Day Test at the MCG, dismissing Australia for 152 runs in 45.2 overs. Michael Neser (35 runs) and Usman Khawaja (29 runs) were the top scorers for Australia, with Neser contributing to a half-century partnership with Cameron Green (17) before a run-out triggered a collapse.
England's first innings saw them bowled out for 110 runs in 29.5 overs, with Harry Brook scoring 41 and Gus Atkinson adding 28. The combination of England's aggressive 'Bazball' strategy and a challenging pitch made it easy for Neser (4/45) and Scott Boland (3/30) to claim wickets, leaving England trailing by 42 runs.
In their second innings, Australia struggled again, with only Travis Head (46 runs) and Steve Smith (24* runs) managing to score over 20 runs, as they were dismissed for just 132 runs in 34.3 overs. This set England a target of 175 runs to win.
During the chase, England began strongly with a 50-run partnership between Zak Crawley (37 runs) and Ben Duckett (34 runs), followed by a 47-run stand between Crawley and Bethell. Although Australia fought back, reducing England from 112/2 to 165/6, Harry Brook (18*) and Jamie Smith (3*) ultimately led their team to a memorable victory.