Joe Root has blamed the pitch at The Oval for England's slow run-rate during the fifth Ashes Test.

The opening batsman added 68 runs off 184 as the home side chase down Australia's first-innings total of 492-9 declared.

The 22-year-old told Sky Sports News: "We did play pretty well today. It's obviously quite a slow wicket and it's quite hard to score freely. We've got a lot of hard work tomorrow and we've got to work hard and earn every run out there.

"Give credit to Australia because they bowled pretty well out there. It is slow and hard to time out there, so you've got to be quite patient and we'll try and carry on tomorrow as we finished off tonight.

"You go through periods when you score runs freely and then you'll go through some where it doesn't come as easy and you have to keep working on your game."

At stumps, England were 247-4.