Joe has got plenty for Twenty20
PAUL FARBRACE says Joe Root can silence doubters questioning whether he deserves a place in England’s Twenty20 side.
The Test skipper’s position amid a raft of explosive hitting talent has been the subject of some debate after the in-form Dawid Malan was left out of the squad to fit him in.
But stand-in coach Farbrace, whose side take on Australia at Edgbaston tonight, said Root’s quality in any format should not be underestimated.
“You don’t have to keep hitting sixes, you can hit fours as well and Rooty has shown he is quite capable of hitting boundaries,” said Farbrace.
“He has the deft touches and flicks, too. You don’t want everyone playing the same way. His 83 in the World Cup in Mumbai [against South Africa in 2016] was as good a T20 innings as we have seen in the last few years.”
Root has the secondhighest average, at just over 39, of all current T20 England players, behind only Malan, who averages 50.
Yet the heat is on, with Malan – who made those three halfcenturies in four innings in Australia and New Zealand while Root rested following the Ashes – making clear his disappointment after being left out for a player who has not played since September. Root may have to wait for his ENGLAND: AUSTRALIA: UMPIRES: TV UMPIRE: chance to shine given the form of the players ahead of him in the order with Jos Buttler moved up to open alongside Jason Roy.
But Farbrace believes that the four T20s – one against Australia and three against India – should provide the perfect platform.
He said: “This series of four games in 12 days is a great opportunity and the one thing about Joe is that he is so adaptable.
“I think he is thoroughly looking forward to playing.”
Farbrace confirmed that Buttler has been elevated to opener after his stunning ODI innings of 110 not out against Australia at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Ben Stokes could figure for Durham in the T20 Blast – against Yorkshire on Thursday or Leicestershire on Friday – before returning for England.
England play India in Manchester next Tuesday, in Cardiff next Friday and Bristol on Sunday week.
Farbrace also threw his hat in the ring for the England head coach job for when Trevor Bayliss walks away next September.
“The chance would be fantastic and if I ended up being offered the position that would be great,” he said.
“It would be difficult to say no.”
HOW THEY LINE UP Roy, Buttler (wkt), Hales, Root, Bairstow, Morgan (capt), Moeen, Jordan, Plunkett, Rashid, Willey
Finch (capt), Short, Head, Maxwell, Maddinson, Carey (wkt), Agar, Stoinis, Tye, K Richardson, Stanlake. M Gough & A Wharf 6.30pm. Live on Sky Sports 2