Joe Root has batted at his absolute best in England’s three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka.
The 35-year-old has scored at least a half-century in all three games, with a high score of 111 on Wednesday.
He has been England’s best batsman by a wide margin, proving why many consider him the world number one.
The England selectors are now likely to regret a decision they made concerning Root a few weeks ago.
Joe Root should be in England’s T20 World Cup squad
Joe Root remains an integral part of England’s ODI squad, but he continues to be overlooked for T20Is.
He was not included in England’s squad for the upcoming T20 series against Sri Lanka or the T20 World Cup next month.
There are two possible explanations for Root’s omission: he’s being rested after a busy winter or the selectors believe his T20 strike rate isn’t high enough.
And while those are reasonable conclusions, there is also something to be said about having your best player on the field.
Having scored two centuries in The Ashes and another against Sri Lanka on Wednesday, there is arguably no batsman in better form anywhere else in the world.
Plus, Root’s T20I record proves that he can deliver in the shortest format. He averaged 35.72 with a strike rate of 126.30 in T20Is between 2012 and 2019.
Now, in the prime of his career and with more creative shots in his locker, there is no reason to suggest that he cannot improve his strike rate to 150.
It just seems foolish to leave the world’s best batsman, who is in remarkable form, at home when he could be helping England win an international tournament.
England’s predicted XI for T20 World Cup
India and Australia are the two favourites to win the T20 World Cup, but England also have a strong enough squad to go all the way.
Phil Salt, Jos Buttler, Jacob Bethell and Harry Brook all have the firepower to get England’s innings off to a fast start.
Predicted XI
- Phil Salt
- Jos Buttler (WK)
- Jacob Bethell
- Harry Brook (C)
- Tom Banton
- Will Jacks
- Sam Curran
- Rehan Ahmed
- Liam Dawson
- Adil Rashid
- Jofra Archer
Meanwhile, all-rounders Sam Curran and Rehan Ahmed will have key roles in Brook’s side.
The biggest question mark for the England team ahead of the T20 World Cup is whether their bowling unit can contain the opposition.
Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid are the two standouts, with experience of delivering on the biggest stages.
- READ MORE: Why BBL coach wants Steve Smith to be ‘parachuted’ into Australia’s ICC T20 World Cup squad
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
