THREE’S A CROWD

Root fears over crazy workload

JOE ROOT has admitted the demanding schedule top stars face makes it almost impossible to play all three formats.

That is why the England skipper has no hard feelings about Alex Hales and Adil Rashid potentially ending their Test careers.

The pair have signed white-ball only contracts for Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire respectively and are no longer in contention for England’s five-day team.

But Root, speaking before tonight’s fourth one-day international against New Zealand, believes from RODNEY WHITE the pair’s decision illustrates a in Dunedin wider problem.

England’s Test captain (below) said: “I wouldn’t say I’m disappointed. I don’t think it would be fair to make an example of those two guys.

“There’s a deeper issue that needs sorting out in terms of making it easier to play all three formats and making sure there is an opportunity for guys to go and play in tournaments around the world and still be able to play red-ball cricket.

“You look at both those two scenarios and it’s not the fact they’ve necessarily ended their Test careers or their red-ball careers full stop.

“From what I’ve heard from Hales it’s about the next 18 months based around really giving himself the best chance of getting ready for a World Cup, which in one way shows his commitment to playing for England in white-ball cricket.

“To criticise players is wrong. You’ve got to make it more attractive to go and play red-ball cricket somehow.”

Root would have been on the road for more than five months this winter if

® he had not been rested for England’s T20 Tri-Series against Australia and New Zealand last month. He said: “There’s a lot of cricket, isn’t there? I’m having to miss formats here and there. “Maybe it’s finding ways of making it so guys are able to...