At some point England will face the very uncomfortable feeling of life without Joe Root. He will turn 36 this year and even his powers will wane one day.
At the moment there is no sign of it happening and with 99 not out from 133 balls, he led England to a series-levelling four wicket win in Cardiff which was not pretty but potentially an important step in the development of this team if the others can learn from the master Root.
“Just get it done,” he said to Gus Atkinson when stuck at the non-striker’s end one short of his hundred and England requiring just three to win with more than five overs to bowl. Atkinson obliged, pulling Prasidh Krishna for four but it was Root who was serenaded off the ground with the Barmy Army rendition of his name set to Hey Jude.
“In those conditions, staying till the end and getting the win, that’s what it’s all about,” Root said. “Sometimes you have to scrap for it and win ugly.”
Root was just one short of what would have been his 21st ODI century and fifth since February last year in a match situation tailored perfectly to his temperament and technique, coming in in the first over and steering them clear of danger when they slumped to 53 for three and again at 125 for five chasing 234.
A pitch that offered pace and carry, but seam movement all day, required concentration and class to survive. It was like an ODI from 30 years ago with a tricky low total requiring some deftness and brains especially against Jasprit Bumrah, who dismissed Ben Duckett with his first ball.
India’s total was below par because they too found it difficult against Jofra Archer but any hopes of a quick England dart to the line were scuppered by the regular loss of wickets as batsmen could not match Root’s ability to stay in.
Root, one of the most level characters in British sport, even showed a bit of annoyance when Will Jacks had done all the hard work, batting 43 balls for 30 in a grinding 72 run stand for the sixth wicket, but stepped to leg and slapped an awful slog to cover with the game there for the taking.
India immediately summoned back Bumrah with England 37 short of their target but Root, head down, nursed his side home to set up a series decider at Lord’s on Sunday. He was partnered well by Atkinson who capped a decent performance with the ball with a bright 23, even lifting Burmah for six.
Root is enjoying a rebirth in ODI cricket. He has averaged over 80 for the past 18 months and his career average is back above 50 for the first time in four years. The fact the 50-over format closely resembles Test cricket now is making a batsman of Root’s class priceless and with a Test captaincy job vacant at the moment this will have done his chances no harm at all.
He even managed to shake off the kryptonite of the keeper standing up. It is the in-vogue way to bowl to England with Hawkeye showing under two per cent of balls in international cricket last summer were bowled with the keeper up to the stumps – this season it is closer to 15 per cent. Root just took it in his stride this time although the tactic did not suit India’s tall seamers in the same way it did New Zealand recently.