5 crucial moments where England lost the Ashes

#1 Joe Root not converting fifties into hundreds

Joe Root crossed 50 four times in the series but could not convert into a hundred even once

To the utter disgust of the England fans, captain Joe Root continued his woeful conversion rate in Test cricket. Before the series began, he had 33 fifties and 13 hundreds – that was already unimpressive – and at the end of it, he crossed the fifty-run mark four times, but did not get to a hundred even once. Though he retired hurt on 58 at Sydney after falling to the cruel heat, he disappointed, managing scores between fifty and hundred every time England needed him to touch three figures.

In the second innings at Brisbane, he fell for 51 when his stay was essential to set up the match well; at Adelaide on the final morning, Root departed for 67 after giving England a sniff of a rare victory; in the fourth Test at Melbourne, 61 in the first innings again was not enough; and in the final game, he had to retire hurt on 58. Overall, a lack of big contribution from their captain hurt England match after match.