England captain Joe Root urged his team to respond in "disjointed and challenging circumstances" ahead of the fourth Ashes Test in Sydney.
The tourists have already succumbed to yet another series loss Down Under before a ball has even been bowled in the penultimate Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, having been outclassed in Brisbane, Adelaide and Melbourne.
England's task has further mounted heading into the next Test, which starts on Tuesday, with head coach Chris Silverwood leading a list of absentees from the backroom staff due to COVID-19 issues.
Alongside the coaching shortage, some local net bowlers for the England side have also been withdrawn due to coronavirus complications, but Root insisted the seeming crisis is an opportunity for his team to unite.
"It has made things disjointed and challenging but it is a chance to come together," Root told BBC Sport.
"We're trying to manage it as best we can. In terms of practice, it's obviously going to look very different.
"We've all just got to be good human beings, good professionals, help each other out where we can and try and get the best possible prep going into these last two games.
"Whether it be putting pride back into the badge, whether it be making sure that we get Test Championship points, [and] for individuals making sure that they're pushing hard to cement their spots in the team. There's a huge amount to play for this group of players.
"We've got to stay tight, we've got to stay together. And we've got to put in a performance on one of the great Test venues in world cricket."
Root enjoyed an outstanding 2021 on the personal front, finishing with 1,708 runs at an average of 61 – the third-best haul in a calendar year, only behind Vivian Richards (1,710 in 1976) and Mohammad Yousuf (1,788 in 2006).
Indeed, Root scored 26 per cent of all of England's runs last year – the highest proportion of any player for their respective teams in 2021 – but questions have been raised over the 31-year-old's captaincy credentials.
Nevertheless, Root – who received the backing of Ben Stokes earlier on Monday – ensures he will continue focusing on the job ahead as he dismissed topics surrounding his future.
"I need to make sure that my full focus is on these two games," he added. "First and foremost, I need to try to get the best out of the group, make sure we put in those performances we keep banging on about out there on the field.
"We'll worry about the captaincy at the end of the series. I've got two big games here to manage well."
UWI, Mona principal launches biography on cricket legend Sir Richie Richardson
In an extraordinary moment celebrating one of the Caribbean’s cricketing greats, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, Professor Densil A. Williams, bridged academia with sports history, launching his much-anticipated biography of former West Indies captain, Sir Richard Benjamin “Richie” Richardson. The book was unveiled in Antigua at Casa Palmadita, Fitches Creek, marking a significant tribute to the living legend whose contributions on and off the pitch continue to resonate throughout the Caribbean.
As the author of Richie Richardson, the latest installment in UWI Press’ Caribbean Biography Series, Professor Williams embraced the challenge of telling the personal and professional story of the former West Indies captain. Known for his meticulous research in international business, Professor Williams applied the same dedication to documenting the cricketing icon’s professional and personal journey.
The book was officially launched by Sir Rodney Williams, Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda. Sir Rodney described Williams as an outstanding academic and praised him for his academic excellence and for the meticulous way in which he captured the work and life of Sir Richie Richardson. The launch event also included remark from Hon Daryll Matthew, Minister of Education, Sport and Creative Industries, Antigua and Barbuda.
A wide cross-section of persons from business, government, academic and the public service attended the launch event.
The book, as part of the Caribbean Biography Series, aims to immortalize one of the region’s significant sporting figures, Sir Richard Benjamin Richardson. It traces his beginnings as a humble school boy in the Five Islands Village in Antigua and Barbuda where the 5th Campus of The UWI is now located, to his major accomplishments as a global sports superstar, an accomplished business man, a husband, father and grandfather, to being an ambassador for his country, Antigua and Barbuda. The book is a must-read for cricket enthusiasts as it provides a gripping account of Richie’s time as player and captain of the West Indies team.
The book Richie Richardson by Densil A. Williams is now available at www.uwipress.com, inviting readers worldwide to explore the life and legacy of one of the Caribbean's most cherished cricketing heroes.
Reddy and Singh seal T20I series win against Bangladesh
Rinku Singh's explosive half-century and Nitish Kumar Reddy's maiden 50 helped India to an 83-run victory in their second match of their T20I series against Bangladesh.
Singh reached 50 runs in just 26 deliveries before being bowled out by Taskin Ahmed, with India making light of the tourists' batting order to claim an unassailable advantage.
India started poorly during the Powerplay, losing Sanju Samson (10), Abhishek Sharma (15) and Suryakumar Yadav (eight) inside the opening six overs.
However, a 108-run stand from Reddy (74) and Singh (53) steadied the ship, before the former was bowled out by Mustafizur Rahman (2-36).
Hardik Pandya's 32 runs helped India battle through the closing stages as they ended their innings 221-9, handing the tourists an uphill task to seal an unlikely victory.
And Bangladesh replicated the hosts' poor start with the bat, with their run chase seeing Parvez Hossain Emon (16), Najmul Hossain Shanto (11) and Litton Das (14) fall early.
Mahmudullah's knock of 41 proved in vain as the wickets continued to tumble around him, with Bangladesh ending 135-9 and hoping to avoid a series whitewash in the final match on Saturday.
Data Debrief: Reddy takes centre stage
At the age of 21 years and 136 days, Reddy is the fourth-youngest player to hit a maiden T20I half-century for India.
Current Indian skipper for Tests and ODIs, Rohit Sharma, was the youngest to hit a maiden T20I 50 for India at the age of 20 years and 143 days against South Africa in 2007.
In only his second T20I, Reddy scored a brilliant 74 in just 34 balls, with four boundaries and seven sixes. His runs came at a strike rate of 217.65.
Root targets 'many more runs' as Cook backs England great to set all-time record
Joe Root is targeting "many more runs" after overtaking Alastair Cook as England's all-time leading Test run-scorer.
The 33-year-old surpassed Cook's previous high of 12,472 on day three of the first Test against Pakistan on Wednesday.
Root reached the mark by piling on 71 runs in the blistering Multan heat and reached 176 not out at the end of play with England 492-3.
"I'm obviously proud but still feel there is plenty more left to do, and many more runs left to get," Root is quoted as saying by BBC Sport.
"More than anything, the way we played as a team is what stands out - we've got ourselves back in a really good position."
Root's 12,578 runs consist of 35 centuries, 1,355 fours and 44 sixes, coming across 146 matches.
He is now fifth on the all-time list of run-scorers across all nations, with only Rahul Dravid (13,288), Jacques Kallis (13,289), Ricky Ponting (13,378) and Sachin Tendulkar (15,921) ahead of him.
And with time still on his side age-wise, Cook has backed the man who took his England record to overtake each of those legendary names.
"I would be betting on Root to do it," Cook told Test Match Special. "I don't see Root losing that hunger and ability to keep driving himself forward for the next couple of years.
"He's just this consistent run-scoring machine. There are other geniuses who can play genius innings, but Root is a genius with consistency."
England have never conceded as many as Pakistan's 556 and gone on to take a first-innings lead, but they trail by just 64 runs heading into day four.
"We've still got an opportunity to win the game, which is really exciting," Root added. "Hopefully we can kick on tomorrow."
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