The buildup to the opener in Brisbane has been awash with macho soundbites emanating chiefly from the home side, who have spoken of targeting players, unleashing bouncers and waging war – all with the whitewash of 2013-14 referenced heavily throughout. But with the time for such chatter now coming to an end, a slightly bemused Root maintained England remain calm and focused as they look to defend the urn they won in 2015 and show that, even with Ben Stokes not on the tour, Australia can be conquered at home. “You hear a lot about these scars but [the whitewash] was a series which happened four years ago and we’ve won four of the last five Ashes,” Root said. “We’ve got a lot of guys who have very fond memories of 2015. I don’t know whether they are just trying to brush that under the carpet but for me it’s completely irrelevant what happened four years ago.” Asked if Steve Smith’s side were perhaps trying to http://www.officialdodgersteamshop.com/Chase_Utley_Jerseyconvince themselves more than anything, given they were toppled by South Africa at home last year and sit No5 in the rankings to England’s No3, Root admitted it was possible, while noting that only three of the current squad were part of the 2013-14 team. It was Nathan Lyon, Australia’s off-spinner then and now, who chimed up at the start of the week by claiming England were scared of Mitchell Johnson four years ago and though the left-arm quick has now retired, a repeat could be inflicted by the similarly pacy Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins. Careers, Lyon said, could once again be ended. Root, who played grade cricket with Lyon in Adelaide in 2010-11, while England were beating Australia 3-1 that southern summer, responded: “It is a bit bizarre. I think you can sort of see through it a little as well. The more guys talk, the more they put pressure on themselves.” Nevertheless, Root conceded the Gabba will be intimidating for the six members of his expected side who have yet to play Test cricket in Australia, given the home side’s 28-match unbeaten record there. The away support will be more dispersed among the 40,000-strong crowd too. The key, he said, is to feed off the nerves and be excited by the challenge. Though Root stopped short of naming his team, the return to fitness of Jake Ball after an ankle sprain means it seems to be settled. One small tweak being considered is for Moeen Ali to bat at No6 ahead of Jonny Bairstow, whose 99 against South Africa at Old Trafford in the summer showed his prowess at shepherding the tail. Australia have one doubt after David Warner could barely bat in practice on Tuesday owing to a cricked neck suffered when taking a high catch on the outfield. The opener still kept to http://www.packersauthenticofficialstore.com/WOMENS-RAY-NITSCHKE-JERSEY.html his pre-arranged media appearance and along with being optimistic about his own fitness, offered some thoughts on the well-documented absence Womens Ray-Ray Armstrong Jersey of Stokes.http://rumodels.com/models/event/3711http://connectube.com/forums/topic/41195/tnt-seek-quick-end-to-respective/view/post_id/47924
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