We must be ROOTHLESS

BATEMAN DEMANDS BIG STEP UP

- BY DANIEL TOMLINSON

JOHN BATEMAN insists England have to be clinical if they want to level up the Ashes series against Australia.

Humbled at Wembley in the first Test on Saturday, England were left in their wake by the touring Kangaroos, who looked comfortable in a routine victory.

And for Bateman, a veteran at the international level, the result can be put down to one thing: the taking of chances.

It's the old sporting cliche, but it's relevant, with Australia taking their opportunities, scoring through Reece Walsh and Angus Crichton, and England failing to mount pressure and score points when the chances arose.