Let’s finish the job now urges England’s Root

Joe Root has called on England to produce a “ruthless” one-day international series win over India at Headingley tomorrow.

Root’s 113 steered England to an 86-run victory at Lord’s on Saturday as Trevor Bayliss’ men squared the three-match series.

India’s limp response of 236 all out in their full 50-over allocation handed England a comfortable win that had appeared at best in the balance at the interval.

David Willey fired a vital unbeaten 50, with captain Eoin Morgan adding 53 as England retained their status as the world’s top-ranked ODI side.

“The pitch was always going to deteriorate quite quickly,” said Root.

“That ruthless side of the ODI team really came out today. And we’re seeing it more and more.

“Hopefully we can back that up and finish the series off now.

“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.”

Root had faced just three deliveries from Kuldeep Yadav before Saturday, with England struggling previously to decipher the 23-year-old’s left-arm wrist spin.

Kuldeep stunned England with his match-winning six for 25 at Trent Bridge on Thursday, but come the weekend in London the hosts felt they had a better handle on his approach, even though he still claimed three wickets.

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

“It was more about spending time out there and trusting the way I go about things.

“It’s just one of those things. When you don’t spend the time you might like to out there on occasions and it happens a few times you’ve got to make sure you stay strong and trust what’s served you so well for such a long time.

“It was a chance to pick as many cues up as possible throughout this innings to make sure I don’t get caught cold in Leeds.”

Relieved to have posted his first ODI century since March, he added: “I’m just desperate to contribute to us winning games of cricket.”