Joe Root, Eoin Morgan
Joe Root and Eoin Morgan (Photo: Reuters)

Former England player David Lloyd has said that though Test captain Joe Root has not played a whole lot of T20 cricket for some time now, he backs Eoin Morgan to bring him back into the scheme of things for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2021 to be played in India.

Joe Root
England’s Joe Root – Getty Images

He felt that with the tournament being held in India, the pitches will take spin, and Joe Root by far is the best England batsman against spinners. Root was pivotal for England during their run to the finals in the 2016 T20 World Cup, which was also held in India.

Joe Root Is England’s Best Player Of Spin, David Lloyd

David Lloyd backed England’s white-ball skipper Eoin Morgan to recall Root to the T20I setup when they pick their squad for the mega event and opined that the visitors are being smart in resting their Test skipper.

David Lloyd
David Lloyd. Image Credits: Twitter

“Joe Root hasn’t played T20 for England for almost two years, but I would bring him back for the tournament in India in October, and I believe Eoin Morgan will do that. Root is England’s best player of spin — he’s inventive, particularly on the sweep, and his bowling would be invaluable in this side, as it was at the last T20 World Cup in India in 2016,” Lloyd said.

England has a stable top order in T20Is and it will be interesting to see where England will fit Joe Root into the playing XI. In 32 T20Is, the right-handed batsman averages almost 36, scoring runs at a strike rate of 126.30.

Joe Root
England’s Joe Root – Getty Images

“Joe has a massive workload, and it’s only right he’s being rested now. But I think England are boxing clever by keeping him up their sleeve for now and will bring him back later this year when conditions will suit him just as much as their power hitters,” Lloyd further added in this regard.

David Lloyd, however, acknowledged that having Joe Root in the England T20I squad for the World Cup would hamper their preparations for the Ashes.

Read More  Rishabh Pant blames this player after Delhi Capitals' loss vs Rajasthan Royals

Joe Root is not part of the ongoing T20I series between England and India, which the visitors lead by 2-1.

Also Read: Toss Has Been Made A Bigger Issue Than It Already Is, Especially For T20s, Says Mark Wood