Unwell Joe Root asleep in dressing room as England's nightmare Ashes series ends

England captain Joe Root was asleep in the dressing-room suffering from gastroenteritis as his team’s Ashes humiliation was completed by Australia on the final day of the series.

Root started the morning in hospital after suffering severe dehydration, which had been exacerbated by record temperatures in Sydney the previous day hitting 56C.

The 27-year-old arrived here at the SCG today still wearing his hospital tag and despite rising from his sick bed he could not stop Australia taking the six wickets needed to clinch the Fifth Test by an innings and 123 runs to wrap up a 4-0 series victory.

That Root, who ended day four on 42, managed to bat for 43 balls today spanning more than an hour to reach 58 says everything about his character.

But, after falling ill again at lunch with his team five wickets down attempting to save the game, he remained in the dressing room as a chaotic series for the tourists finally came to an end.

According to James Anderson it was a miracle Root even managed to get to the SCG.

“He’s not had any sleep,” said the vice-captain for the tour. “He’s not eaten. He’s had diarrhoea and he’s been vomiting, so I guess he’s not in great state.

“To get to the ground was a great effort, and to strap his pads on and bat for as long as he did was a brilliant effort and showed exactly what sort of character he is.

“He wants to lead by example in this team. He’s been a fantastic captain on this tour and it shows what sort of person he is to make that sort of effort to get out on the field.”

Root resumed his innings 15.2 overs into the day after Moeen Ali fell to Australia spinner Nathan Lyon for the seventh time this series.

England survived for another 27 overs before they were put out of their misery in hapless fashion, which was apt given how this tour has unfolded. The final wicket to fall came when Anderson reviewed his caught behind dismissal to Josh Hazelwood when none was left.

Man-of-the-match Pat Cummins, who took eight wickets overall, had led Australia to the brink of victory by dismissing Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad and Mason Crane within six overs.

Anderson suffered 5-0 whitewashes in Australia in 2006-07 and 2013-14 in between a 3-1 win during the winter of 2010-11.

Despite the one-sided nature of thisseries, the fast bowler insists this latest loss should not lead to an overhaul in either England’s coaching staff or playing personnel.

Questions about the future of coach Trevor Bayliss are being asked with England’s record overseas since their victory in South Africa two years ago reading nine defeats, one win (in Bangladesh) and one draw.

But Anderson said: “I think we have improved in the past 18 months. We’ve definitely made strides in the right direction. It doesn’t feel like a series where there should be a big upheaval like other series which have been absolutely disastrous. We’ve actually played good cricket. Every game has gone to the fifth day. We’ve not been blown away.

“It doesn’t feel like a completely disastrous series. We are hurting and we know we’ve got to improve in a lot of areas and I’m sure the management will be thinking the same. I’m sure everyone will be looking at themselves in the mirror over the next few weeks.”

Anderson turns 36 this year but England’s all-time leading wicket‑taker is desperate to still be playing when Ashes hostilities are resumed next year. He said: “The Ashes are only 18 months away in England. We must start planning for that and getting the Ashes back. You see the delight on the faces of the Australians who’ve just picked up the trophy — we want that feeling back and we want the Ashes back in England. It starts now.

“It hurts. We came over here desperate to win, desperate to compete. We’re bitterly disappointed. I hope that the guys in the dressing room are watching these guys celebrate, and I hope it’s hurting them as much as it is me. Hopefully, that will drive them on for the next 18 months.

“I’m absolutely determined [to play in the 2019 Ashes]. I’m hungry to keep playing for England. Obviously, the powers that be will decide on the teams that are going to play in the coming months and years but I’m going to do everything I can to be available for that series.”

England have won four successive home series against Australia since 2001.

But victorious Australia captain Steve Smith is understandably confident about ending his country’s 18-year wait for an away Ashes success in 2019.

“It’s on my bucket list to win an Ashes series in England,” he said. “A lot can change between now and then, it’s a long time away. This team has been magnificent this series. The more we play together the more we will get better. England in 2019 is a long way away but it’s a real challenge for us as well.”

Predictably, Smith was named man of the series after scoring 687 runs at an average of 137.40 but he paid tribute to his team’s outstanding quartet of bowlers: Lyon, Cummins, Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc.

“I think all the bowlers did an exceptional job,” said Smith. “Each of our bowlers have over 20 wickets in this series which showed that the guys have bowled together as a group, bowled in partnerships, bowled for one another and helped us take the 80 wickets that we’ve needed to take four Tests.”