'These two days are really important for recovery' - Joe Root on availability of James Anderson, Ollie Robinson for final Test

India registered a thumping victory of 157 runs against England in the fourth Test match to go up 2-1 in the five-match Test series. Ahead of the fifth and final Test, the hosts are concerned about the fitness of James Anderson and Ollie Robinson. However, England skipper Joe Root stated that the team will weigh upon the fitness of pace spearheads before entering into the final Test.

With the fifth Test scheduled to start from Friday (September 10), the bowling attack has limited time to recover. Anderson and Robinson have been the spearheads of England’s bowling attack. Considering their form, Root would want them to be a part of the team for the crucial encounter.

“These two days are really important for recovery, making sure they’re in a position to play Test cricket. I think one thing you have to do is trust the medical advice that’s been given, speak to the guys that understand the science behind this and also speak to the players as well that know their own bodies better than anybody else,” Joe Root said as reported by Times Now.

Root also added that they wouldn’t want a player in the side with a risk of injury. He further pointed that the team would want to do what would be best for the players.

“You never want to go into a Test match playing someone under risk of injury. You want to make sure you do the best thing for the player but you also don’t want to go into a Test match and someone go down injured and you’ve got one less bowler at your disposal,” Root added.

It just takes that one person to go on and do it: Joe Root

The Indian team exuded great character to come from behind and take a 2-1 lead in the series. The England skipper thus reckoned that England must strive to cope up with pressure moments as it is the little period amidst the match where the fortunes of the game change. He also pointed that the players need to step up for the team and bring the side to a strong position.

Within this series, there have been half-an-hour periods in the game where we’ve not managed it as well as them and it’s really cost us and we’re sat 2-1 down instead of potentially 3-0. Can you be the one to go and make that big score and to really put us in a position of strength, be part of a really big partnership? It just takes that one person to go on and do it. It can very quickly spread like wildfire, feed into the rest of the group so hopefully, that can materialise this week,” Root added.