England captain Joe Root on Tuesday backed Jack Leach and Rory Burns to bounce back from dismal Ashes performances, as star all-rounder Ben Stokes declared himself fit to carry the fight to Australia.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Root refused to rule out selecting spinner Leach in Thursday's pink-ball Test in Adelaide, even though he conceded 102-1 from 13 overs as England stumbled to a nine-wicket loss in Brisbane.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
England controversially rested veteran quicks Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad for the first Test but Root said the pair were "fit and ready to go" in Adelaide.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Leach's meagre returns in Brisbane would normally see him dropped to make room in the attack, but England will want a specialised slow bowler for Adelaide's traditionally spin-friendly wicket.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"We've obviously got some big decisions to make," Root told reporters in Adelaide.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He said conditions did not suit Leach at the Gabba but Australia could pay the price if they continued to target him elsewhere.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I'm sure he'll want to respond and he'll want to get back into the series and have an impact," the England skipper said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Some of the grounds that we will be going to from this point onwards should offer a lot more for him and bring spin into it as well."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Root also offered support to opening batsman Burns, who fell to the first ball of the series in Brisbane and then dropped a crucial chance from David Warner.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Rory is a very strong character, you can't doubt that side of his game," said Root, himself strongly criticised back in England after winning the toss in Brisbane and opting to bat first.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"He'll come back in and want a response and want to put some big scores on the board."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Stokes, who failed to fire in Brisbane -- his first competitive match in six months after a break to deal with a finger injury and mental health issues -- dismissed concerns a knee injury could keep him out of the second Test.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"People will have seen me rubbing my knee from time to time when I was in the field, but rest assured I'm fine," Stokes wrote in a column for Britain's Daily Mirror.<\/p>\r\n\r\n