We Wanted To Catch Up With Opposition And Talk Through Things - Joe Root Opens Up On Post-Ashes Drinking Session

England Test captain Joe Root spoke about the drinking session post the fifth and final Ashes Test that was doing the rounds on social media. He explained that it wasn’t a celebration but rather catching up with opponents who fought hard.

The Ashes series was a debacle in every which for the English players. They lost the series 0-4, managing to draw the Sydney Test with just one wicket remaining. They were thoroughly outplayed in all the departments and didn’t have an answer for the Aussies.

Following the conclusion of the final Test in Hobart, the players headed out for a drink which went on till 6 am the next morning. Root along with James Anderson, Nathan Lyon, Alex Carey were seen sitting around a table, the latter still in his cricketing jersey.

“Clearly it doesn’t look very good. We were very respectful. We wanted to catch up with the opposition and talk through things. I was having a good, deep conversation with Nathan Lyon – someone I’ve known for a very long time and played a lot of cricket both with and against – and we wanted to talk through the series,” Root said to Sky Sports.

“It was about learning from your opposition” – Joe Root

It’s quite understandable that the players wanted to let off steam after a gruelling tour amid the covid-19 pandemic, all the while living inside strict Aussie bio-bubbles. Nevertheless, Root clarified that it was merely having a chat with the opponents who won fair and square.

“We might have overstepped the mark slightly, I apologise if that was the case, but in no way did we mean any offence or want to show cricket in a bad light. It’s absolutely not what that was about.”

“It was about learning from your opposition. For us, it wasn’t celebrating because it wasn’t a very successful tour personally but enjoying the company of the opposition having fought hard against each other for a long period of time,” he added.

Root and co. will now play against West Indies in a 3-match Test series in the Caribbean.

Also Read – I Am Very Grateful That I’ve Got The Opportunity To Revive England Test Side As Captain: Joe Root