Root buries Ashes agony, seeks redemption against New Zealand

England captain Joe Root has declared himself free of any Ashes hangover as he looked to revive his fortunes and those of his team in two-Test series in New Zealand starting on Thursday. Root said he h been working on his batting shortcomings and denied Test captaincy weighed on his performance in drawn mid-year series against Australia, in which he suffered three ducks as England failed to regain Ashes. Neir England r New Zealand were prepared to name ir line-ups Thursday for what will be maiden Test at Mount Maunganui's Bay Oval ground.

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But Root said rising star Jofra Archer "would bring something different to what we h previously" in bowling stakes, indicating paceman will be included. New Zealand will t be fighting fire with fire -- ir genuine quick Lockie Ferguson is in squ for first time, but captain Kane Williamson said he would sit out first Test. England have h upper hand over New Zealand this year, narrowly winning World Cup on boundary countback rule when final was tied, and winning recent Twenty20 series 3-2 when a super over was needed to separate two sides.

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But while wins were satisfying, Root said Test cricket was ar level altoger and after failing to beat Australia he fancied England could start on ro to redemption against New Zealand.

"Long term it's important that we look after Test cricket in England and we make it a priority," he said.

"You look at guys in dressing room and y're all desperate to get that right. We feel we're in a strong position to take this team forward." 

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'My game's in good order'

Root, who avers 47.91 but was well off his best with an aver of 32.50 against Australia this year, was amant pressure of captaincy was t an issue. "It's very clear that I want to be leing this team moving forward," he said. "I'm t concerned about it. I kw I've t performed as I'd like to in previous series and probably over last year, but y're challenges you face as an international player. It could have been exactly same if I wasn't captain. "I've gone away and worked out a few things and feel like my game's in good order coming into this series."  Despite Root's confidence, New Zealand go into series ranked second in world, one spot ahe of England, and have won seven of ir past eight home series including a 1-0 win in a two-match series against England 20 months ago. Tim Soue, Trent Boult and Neil Wagner, who took 32 of 40 England wickets to fall in that series, were confirmed Thursday as again forming bowling pace attack.

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