I am the right man to take England forward: Root after Ashes defeat

Joe Root feels he is still the best option to England in Tests going forward following the 4-0 Ashes drubbing in Australia. England managed to draw the fourth Test, hanging on by one wicket in Sydney but slumped to a 146-runs loss in the fifth and final Test in Hobart on Sunday.

When questioned if he will continue to lead the Three Lions after the debacle, Root said that he is still willing to captain the Test team despite the somber mood in the camp.

"I'd love the opportunity to take this team forward and to turn things around," Root said in the post-match press conference. "At the minute, we are going through a real tough stage as a group of players, and the performances haven't been good enough. But I'd love the opportunity to try and turn things around and for us to start finding the performances that you'd expect from an English Test team, which we've been lacking of late," he added.

"I believe I am the right man to take this team forward, in my own eyes. If that decision is taken out of my hands, then so be it, but I'd love the opportunity to carry that forward. And yes, I do have an appetite to carry on and to turn things around, but we'll see how things unfold."

"There's a lot of things to consider. Playing in these bubbles takes its toll and there are certain things that definitely need to change. We've got an opportunity to really prioritise Test cricket off the back of this, and I'm sure I'll get an opportunity to express my views, and how I think we can make significant changes to the red-ball game in our country."

Root pointed at the batting collapses as the biggest reason for their heavy defeat as he felt the batters had left the bowlers in a helpless position. The visitors managed to cross 200-run mark only four times in the 10 innings in the series. Chasing a target of 270 in the fifth Test, they were bundled out for 124 on the third day.

"Far too many times we've been bowled out for under 200, and we are never going to win Test matches when we don't get runs on the board. I felt for our bowlers after the performance they put in in that second innings. We really missed an opportunity this week," Root said.

Root, who top-scored for England with 322 runs at an average of 32.2, felt that the batters will be frustrated by their poor performances.

"A lot of guys will look at themselves in the mirror and say 'I've not given a very good account of myself'," he added. "That's a frustration. We have we've let ourselves down because we've not given not given a fair account of what we're capable of.

The 31-year old admitted that Australia were clearly superior to his team in all departments.

"But at the same time, it's quite evident that Australia, at this moment in time, are a better team than us in all areas. It hurts me to say that, but it's the reality of things. We've got to accept that and find a way of being better. Thankfully we've got four or five weeks at home, before the opportunity to go to the West Indies, and start to make significant improvement as a group of players."