Joe Root

Root ready for Ashes challenge

The Yorkshire batsman, who took over as captain after Alastair Cook's resignation last month, was dropped for the final Test during the miserable 5-0 whitewash defeat in 2013/14.

He admitted the series Down Under felt as if he had walked straight into a "conservatory door", after the string of defeats which led to Kevin Pietersen being sacked and Andy Flower resigning as coach.