Root: England learning on the job in ODIs
Joe Root says some England players are having to 'learn on the job' in 50-over cricket due to lack of exposure to the format, after his unbeaten 99 led England to a four-wicket win over India in Cardiff.
England cricketer Joe Root has stated that some players in the national team are forced to 'learn on the job' in the 50-over (ODI) format because of insufficient exposure to it. Root himself scored an unbeaten 99 in the second one-day international in Cardiff, guiding England to a four-wicket victory in challenging conditions.
England's top six batters in that match had collectively played more than 400 fewer List A matches (which includes ODIs and major domestic white-ball competitions) than their Indian counterparts. Root, 35, highlighted this experience gap as a major challenge for the team and the young players coming through.
"I think that's one of the biggest challenges for this team and the young guys coming through," Root said after the win. "Not just now, but in the next little while, anyone coming into this team does not have the wealth of experience and understanding of 50-over cricket because we are not exposed to it any more."
Root emphasized the need to adapt to different conditions, as seen in Cardiff where the pitch was not conducive to the aggressive batting style of England's 2019 World Cup-winning squad. He noted that players must be brave, absorb pressure, and find ways to win even when conditions are not ideal.
England have been inconsistent in ODIs recently, losing 14 of their last 20 matches. They are eighth in the world rankings and must stay in the top nine to secure automatic qualification for the 2027 World Cup. Root expressed hope that the team would be judged on their recent performances, such as the series win against Sri Lanka earlier this year.
With only Root and Jos Buttler remaining from the 2019 World Cup-winning squad, Root believes this new group can emulate that success if they continue to learn and develop. The series decider against India will be played at Lord's on Sunday.
"We'll go to Lord's with everything to play for, a high-pressure game ahead of a World Cup. If we can keep developing and understanding different situations and scenarios, by the time that World Cup comes round we'll be in a really strong place," Root added.
