Root: I will risk burnout and continue playing T20

JOE ROOT says he will risk burnout and defy England’s coaches by carrying on playing Twenty20 cricket. Root ended his first Ashes series at the helm exhausted, with coach Trevor Bayliss insisting he pull out of last month’s T20 tri-series to rest. Yet Root said ahead of tonight’s fourth oneday international that he will continue to press for inclusion in England’s future T20 squads. ‘I had a long discussion with Trevor about that tri-series because I was desperate to play in it,’ said Root. ‘I want to play as much as possible in the format to give myself the best chance when that World T20 comes around. You never want to miss games and being rested is almost that bit more frustrating because you feel you should be able to play.’ Root is also annoyed at not being picked up in the draft for this year’s IPL, which begins next month. He said: ‘I was disappointed. It wasn’t to go and earn as much money as possible. I’m looking to try to develop my white-ball cricket.’ TV: LIVE SkySports Cricket, from 9.30pm, New Zealand v England