The Ashes 2017-18 would be tough for Joe Root due to captaincy burden, feels Graeme Swann

England are already struggling in the 2017-18 Ashes as they trail 0-2 following the second Test (D/N) loss at Adelaide.

England are already struggling in the 2017-18 Ashes as they trail 0-2 following the second Test (D/N) loss at the Adelaide Oval on Wednesday. England now have a mountain to climb if they intend to save the series, let alone win it. Graeme Swann feels that the tour is getting tough for Joe Root owing to the captaincy burden on him and he is failing to score enough. Root is yet to convert his double figures into the threes, while he fell for 9 and 67 in the Adelaide Test. Swann feels that had it not been for the captaincy burden, Root could have been England’s best batsman in the tour. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: Australia vs England, Ashes 2017-18, 2nd Test at Adelaide (Day-Night)

On Root

“It’s a monkey on his back and it will continue to grow with so many fifties not being hundreds. I’m still convinced it’s because he’s had the captaincy put on him. I wish they hadn’t, I wish he didn’t have the burden and could just be our best-ever batsman but that decision has been made and this tour will be tough on him because that pressure will build and build,” said Swann, as reported by ESPNCricinfo.

On England’s batting

“The top six just aren’t churning out the scores you need to win Test cricket. Vince got a brilliant 80 in Brisbane but since then hasn’t performed, Mark Stoneman is looking good but not converting the starts and the big guns Cook and Root just aren’t scoring hundreds. There are problems. The scoreboard has to read 400-450 if you want to win here.”

On Moeen Ali

“One person I wouldn’t drop despite very ordinary performances is Moeen Ali. You need to still play a spinner at Perth and it would be a very big call to bring in Mason Crane at probably the least spin-friendly ground in world cricket. But Moeen has to start believing in himself as a bowler. If he’s injured he has a week to get over that and he has to bat with conviction and flair. When he’s on fire he’s a dangerous prospect but at the moment he’s 50% Moeen.”

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