We're prepared for the challenges: Joe Root on the prospect of facing Ravichandran Ashwin at Oval

After a fantastic victory against India in Leeds, English skipper Joe Root seemed in high spirits. He was asked about the prospect of India playing veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin in the fourth Test at the Oval. Root seemed confident in his answer and said that his team would be ready to face the veteran bowler. The five-match Test series that is being played between England and India is currently tied at 1-1. There are two more matches to play, the first at the Oval and the second at Old Trafford. The Oval statistically has the most spin-friendly track and Virat Kohli might be inclined to pick two spinners for the Test.

ASHWIN is ONE OF THE BEST

Ashwin is one of the best Test spinners India has ever had if one looks at the statistics. He is just four wickets short of former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh as the second best Indian spinner in Tests behind Anil Kumble. Recently, he picked an outstanding six-wicket haul in a County Championship game for Surrey at the Oval. That was just a month ago. Ashwin was also India’s best bowler in the final of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) against New Zealand earlier this year. India had unfortunately failed to win that match.

“We will certainly be making sure that we’re prepared for the challenges that he poses coming into this Test match, along with other combinations that they might throw at us,” Root said. “But, ultimately, you can get wrapped up and you can end up playing the player. So it’s really important that you just play the delivery and to the situation that you find yourself in. Whoever it is that we face up against this week, it’s about playing the ball that’s right in front of you and not to the reputation,” the England skipper added.

India had taken a 1-0 lead against England with an incredible 151-run victory at Lord’s. The hosts quickly bounced back as they comfortably beat India in Leeds by an innings and 76 runs. That levelled up the series at 1-1. The win against India made Root the most successful Test captain for England with 27 wins in 55 games, surpassing the likes of Michael Vaughan (26), Andrew Strauss (24) and Alastair Cook (24). However, Vaughan was of the opinion that Root would be a great captain only if he won the Ashes. England’s last away Ashes victory came in 2010-11 under Strauss.

WINNING THE ASHES

“In terms of what other people think of me as a captain is sort of irrelevant. My job is to do the best I possibly can for the period I’m in the role and that will never change,” Root said. “I think as an England captain, you are always judged on how you do in the Ashes. I think more than anything I need to make sure that we try and win this series first. It’s a huge series for us. And then we’ll turn our attention to Australia, something that we’ve been planning for a long time,” he added.

Root also said the Ashes is something which every captain aspires to win. “It’s certainly something that everyone wants to do is to go to Australia, it’s something you’re always desperate to have as part of your career,” the England skipper said. “I’ll give everything to the team, everything to the squad of players and if at the end of it, that’s not good enough for some people, but I’ve done everything I can, I can be proud of that,” he added.