Ahead of the second Test against India, England captain Joe Root said that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic was severely hampering their preparations. Backing his under-fire players, Root on Tuesday said that the pandemic has hampered the continuity of players in the team, but no one could question their work ethics.

In the first Test played in Nottingham, England was bowled out for 183 in the first innings. They conceded a 95-run lead to India. The skipper then scored a strokeful hundred in the second innings as England put up 303 on the board.

The match ended in a draw after the last day’s play was washed out due to rains.

Several experts and former cricketers had raised questions over England’s poor show as a batting unit. Former captain Geoffrey Boycott slammed the batsmen for showing lack of patience and technique.

“You see the guys put in the work time and time again. One thing you can never question about anyone in this team is their work ethic. I think everyone throws everything into their practice and does everything they can to make themselves better,” Root said during the virtual press-conference.

“COVID has had quite an effect on our consistency in backing up teams, whether that be workload through having to rotate players or through the conditions, it’s been a difficult thing to get continuity in that respect.”

Boycott had blamed the temptation of poking at the ball on too much focus on one-day cricket.

“In Test cricket, it’s a fine margin, it’s a fine balance. Of course you need a strong technique to be able to trust your defence, but you also need to be able to apply pressure on occasions,” Root said.

The skipper said rotating the strike would be the key to success for his under fire batsmen.

The second Test between India and England will start on August 12.