Harry Brook Admits Joe Root Was Not Considered for England T20 World Cup Squad
England cricket captain Harry Brook has openly admitted that veteran batsman Joe Root was never in contention for selection in the upcoming T20 World Cup squad. This revelation comes despite Root's exceptional recent form in the One Day International series against Sri Lanka, where he showcased his enduring class and skill.
Root's ODI Brilliance Sparks Debate
Joe Root, aged 35, delivered a masterclass in the ODI series victory in Sri Lanka, posting impressive scores of 51, 75, and an unbeaten 111. His ability to construct innings on spinning wickets led to questions about whether England might be overlooking a valuable asset by excluding him from the T20 World Cup, which is co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka next month.
However, Root himself acknowledged after the series-clinching win in Colombo on Tuesday that he is a "long way off" the T20 squad. He has not represented England in the T20 format since 2019, highlighting a significant gap in his recent involvement in the shortest form of the game.
Brook's Candid Assessment
When asked if Root was ever in the mix for the World Cup squad, captain Harry Brook responded frankly, "Probably not, no. He's obviously such a phenomenal player. In all conditions he's done it everywhere. Unfortunately he wasn't quite in the mix."
Brook's comments underscore the selectors' focus on current T20 specialists and form, even as they recognise Root's all-round excellence and experience in international cricket.
England's Preparations and Momentum
England are now travelling to Pallekele, near Kandy, ahead of a three-match T20 series starting on Friday. This series serves as crucial preparation before their T20 World Cup campaign kicks off in Mumbai on February 8.
The recent 53-run victory in Colombo secured a 2-1 series win, marking only England's second triumph in their last eight ODI series. Brook himself played a pivotal role, smashing 136 runs from just 66 balls, building on Root's brilliant 20th ODI century.
Team Resilience and Confidence Boost
Captain Brook expressed pride in his team's response after losing the series opener, especially following a challenging winter that included a 4-1 Ashes defeat and poor ODI form. "Our heads never go down. We always want to keep on pushing forward. We always want to try and win every game," Brook stated.
He emphasised the importance of sticking to processes and adapting to conditions, noting, "To put on a score like that and then defend it and bowl the side out who are ranked number five in the world, it was an exceptional effort. The lads should be very proud of that performance."
Brook highlighted the significance of the series win, saying, "We obviously haven't won many series away from home in recent times. It's nice to get that monkey off the back. That can give us a hell of a lot of confidence going forwards."
Yorkshire Partnership and Tactical Insights
The Yorkshire duo of Brook and Root shared a sensational partnership of 191 runs, propelling England to a match-winning total of 357 for three. Brook's innings featured nine sixes, as he dismantled the Sri Lankan attack, accelerating from fifty to 136 in just 26 balls.
Brook credited a net session with Root on the eve of the match for his aggressive approach against spin. "I had a good net session with Rooty. We were talking about different ways of playing spin and different guards and whatnot," he explained.
"I took that into the game. I'm happy that I had the courage to go out there and do what I did in practice. It's just trying to access different parts of the field. But having him stood behind watching means the world and it helps a lot," Brook added, reflecting on the mentorship and confidence gained from Root's presence.
