Brisbane, Dec 5 (NationPress) - England's centurion from the first innings, Joe Root, has called on his teammates to 'express themselves in the right manner' as they strive to salvage the second Test of the ongoing five-match Ashes series. The home team, Australia, currently holds a 44-run advantage in the Brisbane Test after dismissing England for 334 runs and then posting 378/6, featuring fifties from Jake Weatherald, Marcus Labuschagne, and stand-in captain Steve Smith.

“It’s evident we weren’t at our best during that segment of the match,” Root shared with TNT Sports after the day's play concluded. “However, the way we managed to claw back by taking wickets in quick succession highlights the unpredictable nature of this game, especially under the pink ball.”

In England’s first innings, Root achieved this by ending his innings unbeaten on 138, marking his inaugural Test century on Australian soil and his 40th overall.

Before a dynamic last-wicket partnership of 70 runs off 9.4 overs between Jofra Archer and Root, Zak Crawley's 76 was the only other significant contribution, accompanied by four ducks.

England's fielding has also raised eyebrows, with Jamie Smith and Ben Duckett committing several straightforward drops. Travis Head was let off the hook on just 3 runs by Smith behind the stumps, while Duckett dropped Alex Carey on his first ball from Brydon Carse, followed by a missed catch from Josh Inglis at third slip when he was on 6.

Nevertheless, Root insists that the team has been dedicated to improving their fielding skills during practice sessions at the Gabba. “It differs from white-ball formats,” he noted. “We often play under lights in ODI and T20 formats, but it presents a different challenge. We train intensely in the days leading up to the match. Unfortunately, today was just one of those instances where a few chances slipped through. We need to maintain our confidence and, when opportunities arise later in the match, be prepared to seize them.”

“We have more work to do tomorrow, yet we are firmly in this contest. More importantly, we must approach it with immense energy and positivity. We are aware that our best game can change the course of a match swiftly, so we will come prepared with the right mindset. If we perform anywhere close to our potential, this game can quickly shift in our favor,” he emphasized.

Root conveyed his desire for England's bowlers to dismiss the last four Australian wickets before stepping up with the bat. “If we execute our plans correctly in the morning and approach the game as a cohesive unit, we can place ourselves in a robust position on a wicket that appears to be playing well. There are likely some cracks that we can exploit later in the game. But for now, our focus must be solely on getting things right tomorrow morning,” he stated.

“Once we take the crease, the quality and talent in our dressing room can showcase their abilities on that surface to achieve a substantial score, which could prove challenging when batting last.”

“I possess a clear strategy for accumulating runs,” he added. “I need to trust my instincts and remain consistent in my decision-making, as that will lead to success.”