Morgan admits dropping Root ‘not an easy decision’
Test captain Joe Root was dropped by England for the first time in three years after struggling for form in recent matches.
Eoin Morgan, England’s T20 skipper, said that telling Root about the decision was one of the hardest conversations he has had in the role. Root was omitted for the returning Ben Stokes, who came in when it was clear he would be able to bowl in the decider against India.
“Dropping Joe is not an easy decision,” Morgan said. “Trying to win the game on this particular ground [Bristol], it actually came down to Ben’s bowling option. If we had Joe as a sixth bowler – which we needed – an extra spinner against India didn’t really match up that well.”
Root will still maintain his position in England’s one-day interna-
tional side when the series with India begins on Thursday.
“Joe was understanding but disappointed that he’s missing out,” Morgan said. “Obviously that changes, moving forward into the 50-over game.”
Although Root has missed a series of T20 matches in recent years, these have been because England have used the format to rest him and integrate new players. The decision to leave him out against India was simply tactical. The last time Root was left out for comparable reasons was for the first T20 against Pakistan in November 2015.
Root has made only 72 runs in five innings across the two limitedovers formats since being shunted
down to No7 in England’s worldrecord score at Trent Bridge three weeks ago.
Root excelled for England in their run to the final of the 2016 World Twenty20 but there are concerns about his recent lack of T20 action: he has played only seven T20 matches since September 2016.
Root entered the Indian Premier League auction this year for the first time, saying he did not want to be “left behind” in the T20 format, but was left unsold.
IPL franchises were worried about his lack of T20 match time and he was less attractive because, owing to England’s Test series with Pakistan, he would not have been available for the whole season.