"Coldplay can't be number one every week" - Joe Root after losing ENG vs SL 2024 3rd Test

England's ace batter Joe Root believes if a renowned music band like Coldplay can't be number one every week, they can't be expected to win every match either. The 33-year-old admitted that England weren't at their best at The Oval against Sri Lanka, but feels they have been a well-drilled side for the remaining five Tests of the summer.

England failed to secure a clean sweep in the three-match series against Sri Lanka after a 3-0 win over the West Indies earlier this summer. The Lankans secured an eight-wicket win in the third Test, chasing down 219 comfortably in the fourth innings thanks to Pathum Nissanka's unbeaten hundred.

Speaking at the post-match presentation, Root said (via the BBC):

"We are not always going to get it right all of the time. For 90% of the summer we have. We have shown what a good team we can be. I don't think we played our best cricket this week and that is going to happen from time to time. Coldplay can't be number one every week."

The Yorkshire batter has been prolific throughout the summer, finishing as the highest run-getter in both Test series. The 33-year-old is now the sixth-highest run-getter in Test cricket as he went past Kumar Sangakkara's tally of 12400 runs.

"We are constantly learning and evolving as a group" - Joe Root

The elegant right-handed batter took pride in how the new faces have grabbed their opportunities and made them count. The former England captain added:

"We have played some really good cricket along the way. We have had new faces come into the team and some really exciting prospects off the back of that. We are constantly learning and evolving as a group and it is nice to contribute to that. It is important we are authentic to what we are as a team and what brings out the best in our individual players."

England will play three T20Is and five ODIs against Australia at home before heading to Pakistan for a three-Test series.