The Ashes: Joe Root expecting England to rally in adversity against Australia in Sydney

England's Joe Root prepares and his players ahead of a ohoto shoot at the Sydney Cricket Ground Picture: Jason O'Brien/PA

Joe Root will become England’s longest-serving Test captain when he leads his country for the 60th time in Sydney tonight, but will only be satisfied if he can mark the occasion with a much-needed victory.

Root levelled predecessor Sir Alastair Cook on 59 games during the Boxing Day rout in Melbourne and will break new ground when he steps out at the SCG on Wednesday.

But the mood is hardly one of celebration around the England camp. The series has gone, scattered to the four corners of the MCG in the aftermath of an innings defeat, and the continued creep of Covid-19 has made for an anxious week off the field.

With head coach Chris Silverwood one of four backroom staff isolating with the virus, Root’s leadership role has expanded even further in the run-up to the match.

England players gather in a huddle to listen to stand-in head coach Graham Thorpe during a nets session at the Sydney Cricket Ground Picture: Jason O'Brien/PA

After four-and-a-half years at the helm nobody knows the landscape better than the Yorkshireman, and he is well aware that only a vast improvement of his side would allow him to truly savour the moment.

“I’m immensely proud to have been given the opportunity to do this. That’s not wavered from day one and it won’t until it finishes, whenever that is,” he said.

“I’m very passionate about playing for England, then to captain England as well is a huge honour. All I ever want to do is try to get the best out of the group, to see us perform and play at a level everyone back home is proud of.

“It’s hurt me deeply that we’ve not managed to do that on this trip and I’m desperate for us to put in those performances. I really care about the role and it would be nice to finish this tour off in a much better way.

England's Joe Root, pictured during a press conference at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Monday. Picture: Jason O'Brien/PA

“I’d love to be able to walk away here, more than anything, with a win. Personal goals make you proud and it means you are pulling your weight and giving your team a good chance of winning, but nothing compares to winning a Test match and I’m desperate to do that.”

Root is happy to acknowledge the SCG as “an iconic” venue but it is also one that represents unfinished business for him.

As well as suffering from a bout of gastroenteritis here four years ago as a 4-0 series defeat was wrapped up, it was this ground where Root was dropped for the only time by England in 2014.