Joe Root defends England after eight-wicket defeat against Sri Lanka - 'Coldplay can't be No. 1 every week'
Updated 10/09/2024 at 00:04 GMT+1
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England may have missed out on the chance to go unbeaten this summer after falling to an eight-wicket defeat against Sri Lanka, but Joe Root was quick to defend his side. He said that even pop icons Coldplay can not be top of the charts every week after England capped an excellent summer with an underwhelming showing at The Oval. We have also learnt that Gus Atkinson has withdrawn from the squad.
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Joe Root defended England's loss in the third Test against Sri Lanka, insisting that even Coldplay can not be top of the charts every week.
England fell to an eight-wicket defeat in the third Test of their three-match series against The Lions, missing the chance to go the entire summer unbeaten.
The hosts started well, setting a target of 325 before Sri Lanka registered 263 runs in their first innings.
England hit 156 in a disappointing second innings, and the visitors took advantage, finishing with 219-2 to seal the win by eight wickets.
Root admitted that England did not play their best cricket this week.
"We are not always going to get it right all of the time," he told Test Match Special.
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"For 90% of the summer, we have.
"We have shown what a good team we can be.
"I don't think we played our best cricket this week and that is going to happen from time to time.
"Coldplay can't be No. 1 every week."
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Ollie Pope captained England in place of injured skipper Ben Stokes.
He told Test Match Special that the result was not due to a lack of desire.
"I wouldn't say it's a lack of an edge or not really having that desire to go and put together a massive score," said Pope.
"It can just happen in cricket, and it's been a good gap since we last did that."
Atkinson out of ODI series against Australia
Gus Atkinson will no longer be part of England's squad for the ODI series against old rivals Australia.
The seamer has been replaced in the squad by Olly Stone, with Pope stating that it will be a good opportunity for Atkinson to refresh.
"I think he's OK," Pope said of Atkinson, who spent some time on the sidelines on day three of the third Test with a tight quad.
"He's got a couple of weeks off now to refresh.
"I've chatted to him and he said it feels better today than when he first felt it. Fingers crossed he's all good."
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