With An Eye On IPL, Joe Root Withdraws From T20 Tri-Series

In order to freshen himself up ahead of a busy summer, England star Joe Root has opted to sit out of the upcoming T20 tri-series involving Australia and New Zealand. England and Wales Cricket Board announced the news on  Monday (January 22). As of now, the replacement is yet to be named.

The England Test skipper has played in each of the five-match Ashes Test series and is currently playing in the five-match One-Day International series. England have already won the ODI series after beating Australia in the first three games. Root will return back home for a break after the ongoing ODI against Australia, and join the team back for the five-match ODI series in New Zealand, starting February 25.

Root said he decided against playing in the T20 series after a discussion with head coach Trevor Bayliss.

“I came into this tour wanting to play everything. I love playing for England and I don’t like missing games of cricket,” Root said. “I had a long chat with Trevor Bayliss about things and there’s obviously a big summer ahead and a lot of cricket still to be played. It’s going to be really important to make sure that I’m available for all of that.

“The decision has been made to have a little break. I’m sure when I’m at home I will be sat watching and willing the lads on,” he added.

England will start the series against Australia in Hobart on February 7. Before that, they will be taken on Prime Minister’s XI in a warm-up game in Canberra.

Bayliss’ advise for Root:

Earlier this month, Bayliss had revealed he told Root to skip this year’s Indian Premier League to remain fresh for the home season.

“We had that discussion a few days ago, I suggested to him that he shouldn’t play, that he should have a break,” Bayliss had said. “He feels that whenever he’s had a break in the last couple of years, it’s always been a T20 series. He wants to play in 50-over World Cups and T20 World Cups.

“He thinks if he keeps missing all the T20 cricket he’s just going to fall behind and not be up to speed when those come along. It’s just a Catch-22 situation. There are difficult decisions to make. You’re damned if you do, damned if you don’t,” he had added.

Well, instead of skipping the IPL, Root has decided to take a break during the T20 tri-series and the reasons are obvious. Root is yet to play in the IPL and his desperation makes it very clear that he wants to get a feel of the world’s biggest cricket league in addition to earn a big fortune.

Insisting that he has opted to play in this year’s IPL in order to rub shoulders with the best player in the world, he also did not deny there is a financial aspect to his IPL decision. Root is primed for a huge payday after being put on the marquee players’ list.

“Of course there is a money side to it, there is no point lying about it,” he said.

“That is obviously a benefit of playing in the IPL but it’s not why I went into the auction. I really believe playing a block of Twenty20 cricket with that scrutiny, being under pressure for long periods of time against the world’s players in that format would be a great opportunity to develop and learn my white-ball game.

“You almost have to look at it as more of an investment for my game and for all the England team moving forward. If being involved in that block of cricket, with everything that tournament brings, is going to add more to my game for the next four or five years then missing a few games here might be worthwhile,” he added.

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