England cricket: Root says young batters learn ODIs on job
England cricket star Joe Root says young batters are having to learn on the job in ODIs after guiding England to a series-levelling four-wicket win over India in Cardiff with an unbeaten 99. Root pointed to limited domestic 50-over exposure, warning newcomers lack grounding seen elsewhere before reaching international level.
Key Takeaways
- Joe Root scored an unbeaten 99 as England chased 234 to beat India by four wickets in the second ODI at Cardiff.
- Root said young England players must learn ODIs quickly because domestic 50-over cricket offers less elite exposure.
- England's top six had played more than 400 fewer List A matches than India's counterparts, per BBC Sport.
- The win levels the series 1-1 ahead of Sunday's decider at Lord's, after India took the Edgbaston opener.
- England sit eighth in the ODI rankings and need a top-nine finish for automatic 2027 World Cup qualification.
Why are England cricket's young batters learning on the job?
Speaking after the Cardiff win, Root said some England players are having to "learn on the job" in 50-over cricket because of a lack of exposure to the format. In domestic cricket, the One-Day Cup sits in the same window as The Hundred and has become more of a developmental tournament.
Collectively, England's top six batters on Thursday had played more than 400 matches fewer than their India counterparts in List A cricket. "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 said, as reported by BBC Sport.
He added that elsewhere players get grounding before international level, so English newcomers must adapt fast when conditions demand "doing it ugly" rather than T20-style field manipulation. For more BlasterPost sports-adjacent alerts, see our Fintech & Crypto Alerts desk.
How did Joe Root's 99 rescue the Cardiff chase?
Root's chanceless knock led England to victory in tricky conditions after India posted 234. Virat Kohli made 65 and Shreyas Iyer 66, but India lost seven wickets for 55 as Jofra Archer (3-47) and Gus Atkinson (3-50) struck.
England slumped to 8-2 and later 125-5. Root then shared a 72-run stand with Will Jacks (30) and finished the chase with Atkinson (23 not out), reaching the target in the 45th over with 5.5 overs to spare, according to Sky Sports.
Root, left stranded on 99 not out, said getting the job done was "probably the best feeling you can get in cricket," echoing comments also shared by the England and Wales Cricket Board.
What does the Lord's decider mean for England cricket?
The Cardiff result ended a six-game ODI losing streak against India and keeps the three-match series alive. England had been inconsistent, with the Edgbaston defeat their 14th loss in 20 ODIs before this turnaround.
Root, 35, and Jos Buttler remain the only batters from England's 2019 World Cup-winning side still in the group. He said the side will go to Lord's "with everything to play for" and hopes continued learning before the 2027 World Cup can put England "in a really strong place."
Sunday's third ODI at Lord's is the series decider. Root wants the team judged on recent adaptability, citing the Sri Lanka series win earlier this year after a shaky start.