- Title: Ashes - England choose Woakes over Archer as Australia promise best behaviour
- Date: 31st July 2019
- Summary: BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND, UK (JULY 31, 2019) (REUTERS) ENGLAND CRICKET CAPTAIN JOE ROOT AND AUSTRALIA CRICKET CAPTAIN TIM PAINE HOLDING THE ASHES URN (SOUNDBITE) (English) JOE ROOT, ENGLAND CAPTAIN SAYING: "We're very excited as a group. It's a great opportunity for us to play the first Test match here at Edgbaston. We've got a very good record here as a team. That doesn't really count for nothing now as tomorrow starts. I think it's really important that we're very focused, very clear on how we want to approach this series, on that first day in particular. But obviously I feel very confident that this group of players is more than capable of winning this Test match." WIDE OF ENGLAND TRAINING AT EDGBASTON ROOT WALKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) JOE ROOT, ENGLAND CAPTAIN ON ARCHER/WOAKES DECISION SAYING: "Yes I mean Jofra (Archer) is obviously coming back from quite serious injury. We looked at the conditions and we made a decision about what we thought was best to take 20 wickets here and this also allows him time to get absolutely ready and fit and make sure that he's got his workloads up and ready to go for later on in the series if he needs to make an impact." VARIOUS OF ENGLAND BOWLER JOFRA ARCHER (SOUNDBITE) (English) JOE ROOT, ENGLAND CAPTAIN SAYING: Reporter - "In terms of the top order you've moved up to three. Why now? Why have you made that decision?" "Why? Because I think it's important that we spread the experience out. It gives me an opportunity to lead from the front as well and I also feel now I'm in a place where I've got my head around dealing with the captaincy and my batting now, to separate the two and an opportunity for hopefully me to make an impact at the top of the order." ENGLAND PLAYERS DURING A NETS SESSION VARIOUS OF JOE ROOT IN NETS (SOUNDBITE) (English) JOE ROOT, ENGLAND CAPTAIN ON WORLD CUP EFFECT SAYING: "It's huge. It's a great opportunity. I think cricket in this country is probably at an all time high. It's probably got interest it's not had for a long time and we've got an opportunity as a team to make this summer a very memorable one. And that's exciting to be involved in that to have that chance, that carrot in front of us as a team is really pleasing one, and it's a great motivator for the whole squad but ultimately it comes down to how we go about that, how we're going break down Australia and how we're going to win enough games to win the series." STOKES BOWLING DURING TRAINING ENGLAND BOWLER JAMES ANDERSON VARIOUS OF ENGLAND BATSMAN JOE DENLY DURING A NETS SESSION CLOSE UP OF ENGLAND FLAG WIDE OF ENGLAND AND AUSTRALIA FLAG IN WIND CLOSE UP OF AUSTRALIAN FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (English) TIM PAINE, AUSTRALIA CAPTAIN ON SMITH AND WARNER IMPACT SAYING: "It's no different to any other game of cricket. The more experienced players you've got on a team generally, the more it's going to help. So we're in a really lucky situation at the moment where we've got two world class batsmen, two guys that have played a lot of cricket in England, a lot of big Test series and a lot of big test matches. So for us not to tap into their knowledge would be silly. So yes certainly guys will use them individually, they've spoken a lot in team meetings, the very few that we've had and yes as I said we'd be stupid not to use those guys as well as some of our quicks that have been here before, having learnt lessons from being here before, so it's important that we learn from them and and put what we've learned into practice in this series." VARIOUS OF PAINE AND ROOT POSING WITH ASHES TROPHY (SOUNDBITE) (English) TIM PAINE, AUSTRALIA CAPTAIN ON TEAM'S BEHAVIOUR SAYING: "Again, I've spoken a lot about this in the last twelve months. We're going to play competitive Test match cricket like every other nation does. Our guys understand what's expected of them. We're role models not just for Australian people but all around the world and there's been a quote going around our changing rooms this week from Winston Churchill actually and that's that 'behaviour doesn't lie'. So we can talk all we like about how we're going to behave. Ultimately you guys will see how we behave and you'll be able to judge for yourself." VARIOUS OF PAINE AND ROOT POSING WITH ASHES VASE ROOT AND PAINE WALK OFF EDGBASTON PITCH
- Embargoed: 14th August 2019 15:29
- Keywords: England Australia Ashes Cricket Joe Root Tim Paine
- Location: BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND, UK
- City: BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND, UK
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Cricket,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA001AQ3ZVB3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: England pace bowler Jofra Archer has been omitted from the side for the first Ashes test against Australia starting at Edgbaston on Thursday (August 1) with Chris Woakes keeping his place after his stunning display against Ireland last week.
Barbados-born Archer, who made a huge impact in England's triumphant World Cup campaign, taking 20 wickets, is yet to play a test and has been suffering with a side strain.
Fellow paceman Olly Stone also misses out as does Sam Curran from the original 14-man squad.
Record test wicket taker James Anderson returns after recovering from a calf strain and will lead the attack with usual strike partner Stuart Broad.
All-rounder Ben Stokes is back to bolster the batting and bowling units after being rested for the Ireland match while Moeen Ali is the specialist spinner.
While England's bowling has a familiar look, the top order batting remains a worry with openers Rory Burns, Jason Roy and Joe Denly, who has dropped down to number four to allow Root to come in at three, having only 11 test caps between them.
Root says his elevation to a spot he has previously been reluctant to occupy was entirely his decision.
The return to the side of Jos Buttler to the middle order means wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow, who made a pair against Ireland, drops down to seven.
(Production: Will Russell, Oliver Regan) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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