Ashes gone, pride at stake for wounded England at MCG

Melbourne : England are contemplating changes as they look to restore battered pride in Tuesday’s fourth Melbourne Test after surrendering the Ashes to Australia. It’s been a tour from hell for Joe Root’s beleaguered team, succumbing to three heavy defeats and rendering the last two Tests in Melbourne and Sydney as “dead rubbers.” Root has been in the eye of the storm over the tourists underwhelming efforts with former Australia captain Ricky Ponting deriding him as a “little boy” who has been a “bit soft” during the one-sided series. Several other under-performing senior players, notably Alastair Cook, Stuart Broad and Moeen Ali, have also been under the gun with some critics calling for their axing. England are more likely to call up either Tom Curran or Mark Wood for injured paceman Craig Overton who is in doubt with a cracked rib, while young leg-spinner Mason Crane is pushing for a Test debut. England and Wales Cricket Board chief Tom Harrison typified the feelings inside the team when he said this week: “I don’t think this is the moment for rash decisions.” Wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow has called on his teammates to rally behind their under-fire skipper. “We don’t just owe him (Root), we owe ourselves as well,” Bairstow said. “We’ve got to go out there and try and win both of these Test matches.”