Tuesday 29 August 2017 22:02, UK
England captain Joe Root insists he will not be scarred by a declaration that backfired after the West Indies sealed a tremendous five-wicket victory in the second Test at Headingley.
The Windies, led by a historic 118 not out from Shai Hope and 95 from opener Kraigg Brathwaite, hunted down 322 to record their fourth-highest run chase of all time, one which secured their first Test win on these shores for 17 years.
Root had opted to end England's innings with two wickets in hand on the fourth evening in an effort to make inroads into the Windies batting line-up but ultimately his decision allowed the tourists a route back into the contest.
When asked whether the experience might incline him to err on the side of caution in future, Root said: "I don't think it will. The declaration might not have been timed right but I thought it was a positive thing to do, we're a side that want to go out there and win Test matches.
"We got ourselves in a position where we could do that and credit to the West Indies, they played really well, they made it difficult for us to get on top of them.
"They're a side that want to prove a point, they've got young players that haven't got a great amount of experience but have got good skill level.
"If you're not on it and you don't play to your best then they have the ability to turn you over and that's exactly what they did to us this week."
Dropped catches were a constant feature throughout the Test and while the Windies were widely pilloried for failing to take their chances, England were just as culpable at times and Alastair Cook grassing Brathwaite on four had a decisive impact.
Brathwaite went on to make a further 91 runs and once again dovetailed superbly with Hope in a 144-run stand - following their 246-run partnership in the first innings - that took a large chunk out of the Windies' victory target.
Root said: "You've got to take your chances in Test cricket. When you get to this level if you give guys opportunities they generally go on and hurt you.
"It's been a strange Test match, there have been so many catches go down, it's hard to put your finger on it.
"We have to be better, we know that taking early wickets and taking opportunities to put sides under pressure is a massive part in winning Test matches. We weren't good enough to do that this week."
Watch live coverage of the third Test between England and Windies on Sky Sports Cricket with over-by-over commentary and in-play video clips on our live match day blog, available across Sky Sports digital platforms, from 10am on Thursday 7th September.
