‘Keeping the lights on’: Former England captain Joe Root declares 2021/22 Ashes ‘arguably’ shouldn’t have happened

Former England captain Joe Root has declared the 2021/22 Ashes series “arguably” shouldn’t have gone ahead due to Australia’s Covid-19 restrictions.

England’s players were tasked with following biosecurity protocols throughout the five-Test campaign, which the Australia won 4-0.

Australian captain Pat Cummins and former England coach Chris Silverwood missed matches due to being close contacts, while the fifth Test was moved from Perth to Hobart because of Western Australia’s border restrictions.

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Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Root expressed regret over England’s participation in the 2021/22 series, arguing the tour only went ahead to “keep the lights on”.

“Thinking of Covid, it was about keeping the lights on last time we went,” said Root, who has never won a Test match in Australia.

“Arguably we shouldn’t have gone last time, should we in retrospect?

“We did what we thought was the right thing at the time.

“We’ll be in a completely different place going into next time.

“You can plan and you can have all the best intentions of getting a result, but it still has to fall into place.

“You need all your bowlers fit and firing, and the guys in good form scoring runs, so that’s what we’ve got to build towards over the next couple of years.”

Root has never scored a Test century in Australia, compiling 892 runs at 35.68 in 14 matches.

Last year, former England bowler Stuart Broad claimed the 2021/22 Ashes should be “written off as a void series” due to the Covid-19 restrictions.

“I don’t class that as a real Ashes,” Broad penned.

“The definition of Ashes cricket is elite sport with lots of passion and players at the top of their game.

“Nothing about that series was high level performance because of the Covid restrictions.”

England has only won one Ashes campaign in Australia since Root’s birth — the unforgettable 2010/11 campaign — while Ben Stokes’ side has not lifted the coveted urn in nearly a decade.

Last week, England thumped the West Indies by an innings and 114 runs at Lord’s to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match Test series.

Debutants Gus Atkinson and Jamie Smith starred for the hosts, who made several changes to their starting XI with one eye on the 2025/26 Ashes tour.

Wicketkeepers Ben Foakes and Jonny Bairstow were dropped, veteran seamer James Anderson was pushed towards retirement, while fellow quick Ollie Robinson also copped the axe.

“You look at what we’ve had on previous tours to Australia and what we feel like is going to be successful out there in those conditions,” Root continued.

“As a player they’re the series that you’re always looking forward to, they’re the ones you’re always building towards.

“It’s nice to see two guys this week come in and pretty much be the most effective two players in the whole game.”

The second Test between England and the West Indies gets underway at Trent Bridge on Thursday.