“It was a group decision to select him,” said Root, who added that his injury in the game was not expected.
“He passed every fitness Test, we went about it how you normally would. It’s one of those freak things, he
pulled up in the middle of a game. The other bowlers work extremely hard to take it up but we weren’t able
to build enough pressure.
“It’s easy in hindsight – Jimmy went through every medical check absolutely fine and it was a unanimous
decision from all parties. Sometimes things go against you and you have to find a way of getting through the
game. It was a fantastic effort considering we were a bowler down and we have to not dwell on it.
“We miss a bowler of Jimmy’s calibre. He has a fantastic record on this ground and against Australia in
England. We are still very capable of taking wickets and being more competitive than we were here in the
rest of the series.”
Anderson had a scan on Thursday and England will now decide whether to hand Jofra Archer his first Test
cap in the upcoming Lord’s Test in his place.
“We are not sure (about him playing at Lord’s). We have to wait and see how the scans come back,” said
Root.
“We will have to wait and see how Jofra (Archer) shapes up as well. He’s going away to play some cricket,
we don’t have to make any shotgun decisions in terms of selection.
“We have plenty of time before that next Test. It’s really important that we are very clear on how we want
to go.”
England have not lost a Test match at Edgbaston since 2008 and Australia last tasted victory in Birmingham
in 2001.
“It does hurt. It is bitterly disappointing,” Root said of the result. “We played really good cricket in the
majority of the Test match. Credit to Australia. They fought hard to get back in it.
“[Steve Smith played] two brilliant innings. We have to keep working hard to get him out. Obviously it was
hard that we lost Jimmy early on. These things happen. We have to take it on the chin and come back hard
at Lords.”
England had to score a record 398 runs in their final innings to win or retain all their wickets on the final
day to salvage a draw, but Australia ripped through the side in less than four hours of play, dismissing
England for 146.
“It’s frustrating, I thought we could get through the day,” Root added on BBC TMS. “Australia bowled
really well – the majority of dismissal we were got out. We have to take it on the chin and come back hard at
Lord’s.
“We got ourselves in a really strong position with them at 122-8 but credit to Steve Smith, he batted
exceptionally well through the Test match.
“But even after the first innings we were in a good position and it’s one of those things where we have to
have to have a look and we have to respond better in those positions.”
Player of the match Smith, who was featuring in his first Test match since his ban for the sandpaper scandal
18 months ago, said his first century was one of his most important knocks.
“The first 100 was pretty emotional,” he said. “I had to take a few deep breaths and take it in. It was a pretty
special moment, probably almost as special as my first hundred for Australia. Hopefully I can keep
contributing throughout the series.
“It’s been a long 18 months for me and my family and friends and they helped me through it back home. I’m