The England cricket squad begins a tour of South Africa on 11 December and batsman and vice-captain Joe Root believes they will do well, having put some some 2015 disappointments behind them and learned to adapt.
England were knocked out of the World Cup in the first round in March, and lost a Test series to Pakistan, but in between beat New Zealand in the ODI series and regained the Ashes, in which the 24-year-old Root was declared Man of the Series. Although Pakistan beat England, Root believes the squad will be better for the loss.
For us, we learned some harsh lessons. I thought throughout that tour we played really well, but we had two really bad hours in the two Test matches which cost us the series really. I think for quite a young and inexperienced side that have not really played in those conditions, if we can learn from that and make sure that next time were in similar situation and similar conditions, make sure that never happens, then well be a really strong side to play, said Root, who is ranked the second-best batsman in the world after Australias Steve Smith.
The victories over New Zealand and Australia came after the World Cup debacle, and Root praised the coaches and all-rounder Ben Stokes in particular for helping the turnaround.
Its been really positive, I think, to come out of that World Cup, such disappointment and to turn it around so quickly. Credit has to go to the coaches involved and to the players. I think the way we approached that first Test match of the summer, and the way that Ben Stokes set the tone, was phenomenal. From that we took a lot of confidence from the way he played and then built from that and we were able to take that forward, said the Yorkshire batsman.
The South Africa tour will include four Tests between 26 December and 26 January, and Root believes Englands senior bowlers will lead the attack.
Yeah, its part of international cricket, you have to learn to adapt and getting out there we will have two weeks of practising and two warm-up games in those conditions. Obviously they are slightly similar to more English conditions, so that should suit our style of play. Weve got a really strong senior bowling attack and hopefully they can perform out there really well, said Root, who was promoting his book about his summer of cricket.
