There are many who believe Joe Root, as captain of England’s Test side and the keystone of a trailblazing one-day batting lineup, should shelve his Twenty20 ambitions in order to focus on his strengths and reduce his workload. Root, however, is not one of them.
Speaking on the eve of Wednesday’s fourth one-day international against West Indies in Grenada, where better weather is hoped for after Monday’s washout, the 28-year-old outlined why he passed on the option to rest for the three-match Twenty20 series that ends this Caribbean tour.
“I love playing cricket for England, simple as that,” said Root. “And I’ve not had much opportunity to play Twenty20 cricket in the last couple of years. I don’t want to miss out on opportunities to play when I’m fit and I feel I’m in a good place.”
While Root is striving to repeat such short-form feats as his 44-ball 83 against South Africa in the 2016 World Twenty20 – a recent spell in Australia’s Big Bash League was somewhat disappointing – then in ODI cricket he knows his game inside out.
This came to the fore during the opening fixture in Barbados, when his controlled 102 from 97 balls helped England successfully chase a target of 361. It was Root’s 14th ODI century in 116 innings, during which he became the fastest Englishman past 5,000 runs in the format and the fourth quickest overall. “Just because I don’t hit as many sixes as others might do, I still feel I can score as quickly,” said Root. “It won’t always be the case but it’s an area I’m always trying to get better [at]. If I can add that to what I’ve got already, I’d like to think you’ll see even more improvement.
“I can’t hit the ball over the stands like Chris Gayle can consistently, unless there is a gale-force wind and I’ve got a top edge off a 95mph bowler. You have to play to your strengths. You always look for ways to get better but getting the best out of yourself is the main thing.”
The Twenty20 series in St Lucia and St Kitts may be where some of England’s fringe players get their chance to impress before the World Cup squad is selected, with Eoin Morgan’s side expected to return to full strength on Wednesday in an attempt to take a 2-1 lead with one to play. It means Ben Stokes is due to return after a minor ankle knock, with Alex Hales dropping back down.
West Indies, meanwhile, will make a late decision on whether to add the newly arrived Andre Russell to their team. The Jamaican all-rounder’s ability to bowl is possibly hampered by a long-standing knee problem but with the bat he still represents a significant threat.
While Root will plough on to the end of the tour, the England management have now decided that Moeen Ali will join Stokes and Jos Buttler on the flight home after Saturday’s fifth ODI in St Lucia, with Sam Curran, the left-arm seam-bowling all-rounder, flying out as a slightly indirect replacement.
The final two Twenty20s are not scheduled to be shown on Sky television in the UK due to their sitting outside the original rights package. Cricket West Indies is currently understood to be in negotiations with Sony, the host broadcaster, in an effort to change this.
England (likely): J Roy, J Bairstow, J Root, E Morgan(*), B Stokes, J Buttler (wk), Moeen Ali, C Woakes, A Rashid, L Plunkett, M Wood
West Indies (likely): C Gayle, J Campbell, S Hope (wk), S Hetmyer, D Bravo, J Holder(*), A Russell, A Nurse, D Bishoo, O Thomas, S Cottrell
