Joe Root claims England will come out “all guns blazing” as they look to pull off the improbable with a world-record run chase of 455 on the final day of the second Test with New Zealand at Headingley.
Alastair Cook and his opening partner, Adam Lyth, reached 44 without loss before rain wiped out five hours of play in the afternoon on Monday, following a morning session in which the tourists hammered 116 runs in 16 overs and declared on 454 for eight.
While Cook’s side are 1-0 up after last week’s win at Lord’s and know a draw in Leeds would be enough to secure the series Root was adamant they would approach the day thinking only of the win – a feat which would surpass the 418 chased down by West Indies against Australia in 2003.
“There is quite a bit of work to do but we’ve got an opportunity to do something special,” said Root. “We’re positive, we’ve got off to a great start and hopefully that can continue. The rain coming in has made things a little harder for us but we’ve got every intention of going out with a view to win the game.
“[It will take] guys doing what they do best and being very ruthless in the way they do it. Someone has obviously got to stand up and play a really important innings. But it is still a good pitch and we got off to a reasonable start ourselves, so fingers crossed we can come out in the morning all guns blazing.”
With tickets for the Headingley finale at £5 for adults and free for children, Root hopes the ground can be filled and an atmosphere generated akin to that experienced in London last week.
“It would be great to get as many people into the ground as we can,” said the Yorkshire batsman. “You look around that changing room and one to 11 are match-winners. We’ve got a long line-up and we’ve got every opportunity to chase them down.
“We need to make sure we get as much from that and get off to the best start possible to set the day and the chase up.”
With only this one Test innings remaining before the Ashes begins in Cardiff on 8 July, attention has turned to the form of Gary Ballance and Ian Bell, who have not passed 30 in their three knocks this series. Root was quick to back the pair to deliver, pointing out that they both scored centuries on the recent tour of the Caribbean.
“It would be hard to say they are in a lean patch,” he said. “They came out of that series with the West Indies with hundreds. They are not concerned about their form. They know how good they are and that they have an opportunity here. One of them, both of them, could win us the game and set their summers up nicely.”
With seven left-handers in the England batting order the New Zealand off-spinner Mark Craig will operate on a pitch that is already showing signs of turn.
But BJ Watling, who scored 120 in New Zealand’s second innings, believes the seamers Tim Southee and Trent Boult will still be their go-to men.
“We have 98 overs and 30 of those with the second new ball. We are backing ourselves to win the game,” said Watling. “We need to pick up early poles and put them under pressure. But we know England will not back down.
“You can still score runs on that pitch but we saw some spin and it could be tricky for them. [Craig] should enjoy the turn and bounce.”
