'This Team Every Day Over Australians' - Root Backs Struggling England

image-loi55sjpJoe Root returns to Ahmedabad (Twitter)

Joe Root posed a firm defence of England amidst a horrible ICC World Cup 2023 campaign by insisting he would pick the struggling defending champions "every day over" the Australians for the marquee league-stage encounter between the two Ashes rivals on Saturday (November 4). 

Woeful in their performances in a disastrous four-match losing streak they may have been, England are somehow still mathematically in knock-out contention and Root believes a victory over the Aussies in Ahmedabad could provide Jos Buttler and company a major boost in their dying quest to recover ground.

If not the semis, England ought to be mindful of the Champions Trophy 2025 context. Placed 10th in the points table after a solitary win in six matches, they must win two of their remaining fixtures, to finish in the top 8 in the World Cup standings to earn the chance to return to the subcontinent in two years' time. 

Root Backs England To Overcome Winless Streak Vs Aussies 

Root, one of the England players who have failed to give a befitting account for themselves despite entering as major contenders, said it's time to view the Australian clash as "our World Cup final" and come out roaring with their best game. 

The great player started with an impressive half-century in the opening game against New Zealand but has since faced a shocking slump, including a first-ball duck against India in Lucknow. He is averaging a measly 29.17 after six innings and just 175 runs in the middle. 

"I look at this team and it's more than capable of achieving way more than it has done throughout this tournament," Root said at the pre-match press conference. "The quality of players we have, we should be sat right at the top of this [table]. We all know that, and we're all very frustrated that isn't the case."

"This group of players have three opportunities to [...] play at the level we expect of ourselves: I fully believe we are more than capable of doing that on Saturday."

"Man for man, I'd have this team every day over the Australians. We might not have played as well as we can do but we know when we play our best stuff, the best teams struggle to compete with us," he added. 

England are also due to take on Netherlands (November 8) and Pakistan (November 11) in match-ups that could determine their under-scare spot in the Champions Trophy.