Root warns England to stick together as tough test lies ahead...

England captain Joe Root knows his side face their toughest task. (AFP)

LONDON: England have been told they must show “character” or face another humiliating Ashes defeat.
That was the message from the side’s captain Joe Root who insisted that his side was completely different from the one that was thrashed 5-0 the last time the pair met Down Under.
Australian players have been keen to talk up England’s struggles in 2013-14, when they were terrorized by the Mitchell Johnson-led pace attack.
England’s inexperienced batting line-up has been highlighted as its biggest weakness as it aims to emulate the feat of Andrew Strauss’ team of 2010-11 by becoming only the second England side to retain the Ashes urn in Australia in 31 years.
England also look likely to be missing star all-rounder Ben Stokes, who is suspended pending investigations into a nightclub brawl.
“Whenever you play any Australian opponent you don’t expect an easy ride,” Root said. “They’ll want to prove a point and judge themselves against international quality and for us it is about trying to take advantage of getting in or bowling with good rhythm and capitalize on that.”
He added that the tourists need to make the most of the momentum swings that go their way during the five-Test series, which gets underway in Brisbane in three weeks time.
“We are going to have to play well as a side, show a lot of character as a group and there can’t be any selfish mentality out in the middle,” he said.
“It’s going to have to be about doing your job within the team, and not worrying about individual performances.
— AFP