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Remain ‘ruthless’ against India, says Root

July 15, 2018
Joe Root
Joe Root

LONDON — Joe Root insisted England must stay “ruthless” when they go in search of a One-Day International series victory over India at his Headingley home ground Tuesday.

Root’s well-constructed 113 laid the platform for an 86-run win at Lord’s Saturday that saw England square the three-match contest at 1-1.

His innings, allied to fifties from captain Eoin Morgan (53) and David Willey (50 not out) helped England post a total of 322 for seven.

India could only manage 236 all out in reply as it batted out its full 50 overs, with England fast bowler Liam Plunkett taking four for 46.

Victory saw England remain at No. 1, with India second, in the International Cricket Council men’s ODI standings.

It was a win made all the more satisfying by the fact England, the 2019 World Cup hosts, had suffered an eight-wicket drubbing in Thursday’s series-opener at Trent Bridge.

“That ruthless side of the ODI team really came out today (Saturday),” said Test skipper Root. “And we’re seeing it more and more.”

“Hopefully we can back that up and finish the series off now,” added Root after his first century at this level since March.

England was faltering at 239 for six but Willey picked a good time to make his maiden ODI half-century, with his innings coming during a quickfire seventh-wicket stand of 83 with Yorkshire team-mate Root.

“David came in and took a lot of pressure off me, to help us turn in what was at least a par score, so it was a fabulous effort from him,” said Root.

Prior to Saturday, Root had faced just three deliveries from India’s Kuldeep Yadav, whose left-arm wrist-spin had been proving something of a mystery for England’s batsmen.

They certainly appeared to have little idea of how to play him while Kuldeep was enjoying a stunning return of six for 25 at Trent Bridge.

But Root looked far more assured at Lord’s, even if Kuldeep still took three for 68.

Root was dropped recently from England’s Twenty20 team and there have been suggestions that his brand of patient accumulation is no longer suited to the modern one-day game.

But when it comes to rebuilding an innings, there appears little wrong with Root’s approach.

“Ultimately you’ve just got to trust your game and trust your technique; I felt I was picking him (Kuldeep) OK,” he said.

He added: “I feel I’ve got a solid approach against spin bowling.

Vince called into squad

Hampshire captain James Vince has been called into England’s squad for the third and deciding One-Day International against India at Headingley Tuesday.

The England and Wales Cricket Board said Sunday that Vince’s call-up would allow Dawid Malan to play for the Lions, England’s A side, in their four-day match against India A in Worcester starting on Monday.

In addition, 2019 World Cup host England has also released Surrey paceman Sam Curran from its ODI squad to play for the Lions.

Kohli defends Dhoni

India captain Virat Kohli said it was wrong for pundits to “pounce” on MS Dhoni and “jump to conclusions” following the former skipper’s bizarre innings in the second one-day international against England at Lord’s Saturday.

The tourists were 140 for four, needing a further 183 runs in 23 overs to reach their target of 323, when Dhoni walked out to bat at the home of cricket.

It was a situation that cried out for some belligerent batting from the often aggressive Dhoni, one of the best finishers of a white-ball innings in the modern game.

Yet instead, Dhoni made a sedate 37 off 59 balls with just two fours.

When he eventually holed out off Liam Plunkett with a rare lofted shot, India was effectively beaten at 215 for eight with just under four overs remaining.

India was bowled out for 236 off the last ball of the match as England won by 86 runs to level the three-match series at 1-1 ahead of Tuesday’s finale at Headingley.

Dhoni’s innings may not have been quite as extraordinary as India great Sunil Gavaskar’s infamous ‘go-slow’ against England at Lord’s in the inaugural match of the first World Cup in 1975, when the celebrated opener carried his bat for 36 not out in a 60-over match his side lost by a mammoth 202 runs, but it was curious all the same. — Agencies


July 15, 2018
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