Root defends declaration after Headingley defeat

London - England captain Joe Root said he does not regret his decision to declare late on the fourth day even though his side lost to the West Indies in the second Test at Headingley on Tuesday. 

Root called time on the England innings giving the Windies a target of 322 with a full day to go and the visitors won by five wickets in gloomy light late on day five thanks to an unbeaten century by Shai Hope, his second ton of the game. 

It was the Caribbean side's first Test win in the UK for 17 years while it was also the third highest successful run-chase in England in the longest format. 

The England skipper insists his team will continue to try and win games rather than play it safe and gave credit to the how the West Indies batted. 

Root said after the game: "In hindsight it's easy to say the declaration might not have been timed right but I thought last night it was a positive thing to do. 

"We're a side that want to go out there and win Test matches, we got ourselves in a position where we can do that - but credit to the West Indies, they played really well today. 

"They made it difficult to get on top of them, create much pressure against them." 

With the three-match series now locked at one-all, the deciding Test starts at Lord's on 7 September.