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Jacks A Fine Spinner Joe Root Backs Leach And His Decision At Toss Even After Comprehensive Defeat

Jack’s a fine spinner: Joe Root backs Leach and his decision at toss even after comprehensive defeat

England captain Joe Root backed up his bowlers and in particular spinner Jack Leach even as he was taken for 102 runs in his 13 overs and could take only one wicket. The skipper rather took the blame on himself for Leach’s dismal performance.

"If anything, that [Leach's poor numbers] probably falls on me for probably giving him too aggressive fields, too early - not letting him settle in and giving him a bit more of a chance early on," Root said in the post-match press conference after losing the game on Day Four at the Gabba in Brisbane.

"Jack's a fine spinner. He's shown over the 20-odd Test matches that he's played what an instrumental part he can play within this team and I'm sure he'll play a big part in this series moving forward,” the 31-year-old stressed.

Asked whether either among James Anderson and Stuart Broad should have played the game, Root said that in hindsight all decisions have flaws if they don’t turn out good.

“We wanted to be able to change the pace of the game and move through different gears throughout the innings. I thought our seamers were brilliant, Woody [Mark Wood] in particular, Robbo [Ollie Robinson] as well and [they were] backed up by the other guys,” he said.

Root, who was criticised for opting to bat first on a green Gabba wicket still defended his decision. He said, "The toss, I think it was the right decision, but when you're 40 [29] for 4, it's very difficult to get yourself back in the game from that position.”

The two teams will now travel to Adelaide for the second Test, a day/night affair which will be played with the Pink ball to begin on December 16th.

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