The Ashes: Joe Root seeks focus on 4th Test, deems captaincy talks a distraction for England

England tour of Australia: Amid heavy criticism, Joe Root has urged England not to get distracted by the captaincy speculations and give their best in the remaining two Tests against Australia in The Ashes.

In what has proved to be a harrowing time Down Under, England have been outplayed and comprehensively upstaged by a rampant Australian brigade in their marauding run to a 3-0 unassailable lead in The Ashes.

Following losses by a hefty margin in Brisbane and Adelaide, the visitors were arguably at their lowest during their shambolic defeat, by an innings and 14 runs, at Melbourne which perfectly summed up their meek surrender of the urn.