Root calls out Aussie mind games ahead of semi-final

Joe Root accused Australia of continuing a long tradition of playing mind games before matches against England, suggesting recent comments by Nathan Lyon were an attempt at deflecting pressure off his own side.

The fuse for Thursday's mouth-watering semi-final between the Ashes rivals barely took an hour to be lit after Australia's defeat to South Africa confirmed their date at Edgbaston, as Lyon used his post-game media opportunity to turn up the heat on the No.1 ranked ODI side.

"I think they are full of world-class players, they've been the No.1 team now for a couple of years. They should be going into this World Cup as favourites," Lyon told reporters on Sunday. "It's all on them.

"It's their World Cup to lose, if you ask me. We have nothing to lose, we only have stuff to gain."

Root, who Lyon has previously described as a "good mate" with the pair having played club cricket in Adelaide back in 2010-11, brushed off the remarks as typical Australian bluster.

Image Id: 0D344F26F6A6445FA891C4F514DFE699 Image Caption: Root and Lyon cross paths during the 2015 Ashes series // Getty

 "Nathan has a lot to say a lot of the time, so for me you just take it with a pinch of salt," England's Test captain told reporters in Birmingham on Monday.

"It might be a way of taking pressure off himself and his team. We know what we need to do to perform well. If that clicks we will be a force to play against."

Lyon is no stranger to a pre-Ashes barb or two, even directing one Root's way before the 2017-18 series when the Australian suggested "it'd be good to get him dropped again" after the batsman had lost his spot during their previous Australian tour.

In that same press conference, Lyon said he hoped to "end careers" and suggested England had been scared of facing Mitchell Johnson during his fearsome, 37-wicket campaign in the '13-14 series.

Root said the sledging is part of a wider Australian strategy to get into the heads of their opposition, referencing legendary paceman Glenn McGrath's traditional pre-series forecast of the Ashes ledger finishing 5-0 in Australia's favour.

"It has happened for years. Look back at when McGrath played and five-nil (predictions)," Root continued.

"It’s just part and parcel of when you play against Australia. That’s how they like to prepare themselves, get themselves ready and we will go about in our own way.

"I can’t speak on behalf of anyone else, but it doesn’t (bother) me. It is what it is. That is what they want to do to get themselves ready and we will focus on ourselves."

 Root is no stranger to the lively spirit Australia v England games are typically played in.

In 2017, then-Test captain Steve Smith said his side successfully got inside Jonny Bairstow's head by sledging him about a bizarre headbutting incident at a Perth bar involving Cameron Bancroft.

Image Id: 6E11774089634874A1473688D893B312 Image Caption: Jonny Bairstow was on the receiving end of Australian sledging during the 2017 Ashes // Getty

During the next Test in Adelaide, Jimmy Anderson suggested England had also disrupted Smith’s mental approach at the crease. Anderson had engaged in various bouts of verbal jousting with the fastidious batsman that, according to the English quick, put Smith off his game.

"I try not to get too involved to be honest," Root continued. "I think there have been times within games when it has got a bit spicy and there have been a few exchanges on the field.

"But generally we will go about things in our own way and just get ourselves ready as best we can."

Edgbaston is known for providing a hostile environment for visiting sides, especially Australia, though it's expected the typically-parochial Hollies Stand may not be as intimidating as usual given semi-final tickets were largely sold before the participants became known.

But the recently-recalled Peter Handscomb, who stressed England's imposing streak of 10 straight wins in all formats at the venue counts for little, isn't anticipating much support for the away side.

"We know the crowd is amazing here. It’s electric, they come out, they let you know about it," said Handscomb.

"That’s part of it: that’s part of playing cricket around the world is that different venues offer different things. We know this crowd is going to be tough, but that gets us going just as much as it gets them going.

"Obviously the rivalry (between England and Australia) is strong. Any game, whether it’s a T20, one-dayer or Test match against England, everyone seems to live for it when it’s Australia-England.

"There’ll be plenty of energy and it’s basically whoever can stay calm for the longest out there and keep a level head then they’ll potentially go through." 

2019 World Cup

Australia's squad: Aaron Finch (c), Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey (wk), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa

June 1: Australia beat Afghanistan by seven wickets

June 6: Australia beat West Indies by 15 runs

June 9: Australia lost to India by 36 runs

June 12: Australia beat Pakistan by 41 runs

June 15: Australia beat Sri Lanka by 87 runs

June 20: Australia beat Bangladesh by 48 runs

June 25: Australia beat England by 64 runs

June 29: Australia beat New Zealand by 86 runs

July 6: Australia lost to South Africa by 10 runs

July 9: Semi-Final 1, India v New Zealand, Old Trafford

July 11: Semi-Final 2, Australia v England, Edgbaston

July 14: Final, Lord's

Sync Australia's World Cup schedule to your calendar HERE

For a full list of all World Cup fixtures, click HERE