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The Ashes | Joe Root sets sight on India's example to up the ante at Gabba

India’s winning triumph on the Tour Down Under has certainly become an inspiration for the England team that will take on Australia in the Ashes series slated to begin on December 8, 2021, in Brisbane. 

England captain Joe Root credited India for playing exceptional cricket in Australia and setting an example. 

“Credit to India, they played exceptionally well throughout that whole series. And, in many ways, set a good example for any touring team to come here and play,” Root said as the Ashes series was launched at a ceremony at the Gabba in Brisbane on Sunday.

Root had earlier talked about getting big scores to stay in front and further added that the Australian pitches might assist the batters too. 

"We can't hide away from the fact we need big scores," he says. "That's not putting pressure on our batters. We should relish that challenge,” he had said. 

"Australia can be a wonderful place to bat. It can get flat. You have to manage the bounce well and come through the odd barrage of short-pitched bowling, being wary of different kinds of dismissal,” he added. 

The English team last won an Ashes series back in 2011, the side which had the present fast bowling duo of James Anderson and Stuart Broad. 

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The Ashes | Australia prepare blueprint to ease Pat Cummins' workload as pace bowling captain

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The Ashes | Australia declare playing XI for Brisbane Test; Travis Head, Starc get selection nod

New Test skipper Pat Cummins has announced the playing XI for his debut Test as captain of the Australian Test team in the form of the first Test of the Ashes series against Australia. The selection calls are largely on expected lines with Mitchell Starc and Travis Head getting the nod from the management to secure the contentious spots. Head has been preferred over Usman Khwaja and will return to bat at number five after a tough series against India that saw him dropped from the sid midway through the series. Both him and Khwaja have been in the superb run for form with the bat in the ongoing Sheffield Shield season but Cummins cited Head’s experience and past success against England while justifying the call to pick him over Khwaja. "It was a tight one. Both really good options, really strong form," said Cummins. "Experience is great from Uzzie and we feel really lucky to have that in the squad, but Trav’s been playing a lot for us the last couple of years. He’s gone away and he’s churned out runs in England, here in Australia, and we feel like he’s really ready to go." There was debate around the place for Mitchell Starc in the playing XI after mediocre series with the ball against India last summer. He was all over the place and struggled to swing the new ball as Australia suffered consecutive series defeats at home against India and first loss at the fortress Gabba in more than three decades. There was a school of thought that was promoting Jhye Richardson over Starc for the consistency and swing he brings to the table but Cummins has thrown his weight behind his longtime bowling mate. Marcus Harris was already confirmed to be the opening partner for David Warner in the first Test and Alex Carey was appointed the wicketkeeper-batsman in the playing XI. Australia XI for 1st Ashes Test Marcus Harris, David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (WK), Pat Cummins (c), Mitch Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.