| Venue: Ahmedabad Date: Saturday, 4 November Time: 08:30 GMT |
| Coverage: Ball-by-ball Test Match Special commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app. The website and app will also have live text commentary and in-play video clips (UK users only) |
Joe Root says he would still choose England’s XI over Australia’s “every day” despite their struggles at the World Cup in India.
England are bottom of the table and are effectively out after five defeats in six matches while Australia are third after four wins in a row.
Australia will mathematically end England’s title defence with a win on Saturday in Ahmedabad.
“Man for man I’d have this team every day over the Australians,” said Root.
“We might not have played as well as we can but when we play our best stuff, the best teams struggle to compete with us.
“We have to remember that and take that into the next couple of days, both in physical practice and mentally to make sure we’re in that frame of mind to take on Australia, which is what it’s about for us now.”
England came into the World Cup as one of the favourites but have struggled throughout.
They were thrashed in their opening game by New Zealand, then beat Bangladesh, but have since lost to Afghanistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and India.
Root said it was a “great time” for England to play Australia, as they look to end the competition on a high and qualify for the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan.
They must finish in the top seven to guarantee a spot in that tournament, though eighth will be good enough if Pakistan finish in the top seven.
“It’s great opportunity to get back to what we expect of ourselves, the levels we put on ourselves, the levels that are expected externally as well,” said Root.
“We’re a far better side than what we’ve shown.”
Australia will be without all-rounders Mitchell Marsh, who has flown home for personal reasons, and Glenn Maxwell, who suffered a concussion after falling off the back of a golf buggy.
Root said England’s performance has been “frustrating” but said it was not similar to the disintegration experienced at previous World Cups or Ashes tours.
“This doesn’t remind me of any previous experiences,” added the former Test captain, who featured in the 5-0 Ashes defeat of 2013-14, and the 2015 World Cup, where England exited at the pool stage.
“It has been unique in many ways.
“Other tours, previous Ashes, there’s been other stuff going on away from the performances that had a massive effect on how we played – this is not comparable to those experiences.”
Instead, Root said England’s players had “let down” captain Jos Buttler.
“I feel this isn’t a reflection of his captaincy,” said Root.
“He’s a brilliant leader, he’s got a great cricket mind on the field, and he’ll do a number of wonderful things as an England captain in the future.
“If it’s another motivator for us as a group of players, it’s to start performing to a level that is respectful to him as a captain.”
Disagree with Root? Pick your combined England-Australia XI below