Nasser Hussain has told England's batsmen that they must follow the mentality of Joe Root if they are to have a chance of a comeback in The Ashes.
Australia eased to a 218-run win at the Adelaide Oval to take a 2-0 series lead into their third match in Perth, with the improvement of Root's batting display one of the few positives to take away from the defeat.
"Have a look at Joe Root - a 22-year-old who got out flashing at the Gabba in the first innings," Hussain told Sky Sports News. "He's learnt from that and put the shot away. He put the sweep shot away here in the second innings and he doesn't take on the short ball because it's too high risk.
"I would challenge England's senior players - and it would make a lot out of a 22-year-old lad - and hold Joe Root and his innings up. I'd say 'look at the way that this young lad on his first tour of Australia went about his business, the way he played and his composure'. I've seen batsmen like this in Australia and other parts of the world who say 'I'm going to get some before you get me'. Aussies pick up on that very quickly; they think 'this lad is flapping away. Eventually I'm going to get him'.
"Joe Root went out there and said 'if there's a ball to hit, I'll hit it, but if not I'll leave it and make them get me out. He's on his first tour of Australia and looks very composed and very controlled. When all around him were losing their heads, he kept his. They don't all have to bat like him. You don't want Kevin Pietersen and Matt Prior batting like Joe Root because each individual has their way, but they need to have his 'over my dead body' attitude. When he got out for 87 he was distraught and that's how every batsman should be on this tour."
The third Test gets underway at the WACA in Perth on December 13.
Matt Cotton
