Cardiff: Joe Root discusses young batters learning on the job in ODI cricket

By Rohan Gupta — 17 July 2026 — 6 min read

England’s ODI Challenges and Adaptability

Joe Root has highlighted that some England players are currently in a position where they must acquire experience in 50-over cricket as they play, attributing this to a reduced exposure to the format. In the second one-day international held in Cardiff, Root played a crucial, unbeaten innings of 99 runs, guiding England to a four-wicket victory. This performance was instrumental in challenging conditions, enabling England to level the three-match series against India 1-1.

The domestic cricket schedule sees the One-Day Cup played concurrently with The Hundred, which has led to the former becoming more of a developmental competition. This scheduling has resulted in a significant disparity in experience; England‘s top six batters in a recent match had collectively played over 400 fewer List A matches compared to their Indian counterparts. Root, aged 35, noted that this lack of extensive grounding in 50-over cricket before reaching the international level is a considerable challenge for both current and future players.

Root emphasised that players coming into the team lack the deep understanding of 50-over cricket that was once common, as they are no longer exposed to it as frequently. He acknowledged that this situation means players will inevitably have to learn quickly while actively competing. The match in Cardiff, where England successfully chased a target of 234 runs in the 45th over, was described as a more traditional ODI. Root’s innings, much like Virat Kohli‘s 65 for India, focused on rotating the strike, playing the ball late, and capitalising on loose deliveries.

This style of play contrasted sharply with some of the aggressive batting seen from England‘s 2019 World Cup-winning squad. Root underscored the importance of adaptability, stating that players need to be brave and capable of absorbing pressure, recognising that they often have more time than they perceive. He stressed the value of having multiple gears in one’s game, enabling players to adapt to different pitch conditions, whether it’s a surface where 400 runs is a par score or one that demands a more resilient approach.

Root also pointed out the difficulty for emerging English cricketers, who are often proficient in manipulating the field and taking on the game in T20 cricket. However, he questioned whether they can adapt to situations requiring a more pragmatic and less aesthetically pleasing style of play to secure a win.

Performance and Future Aspirations

England‘s recent performance in ODIs has been inconsistent, with the defeat at Edgbaston in the series opener marking their 14th loss in 20 matches. The team is currently ranked eighth globally and must maintain a position within the top nine to secure automatic qualification for the World Cup in 2027. Despite these challenges, Root expressed hope that the team would be judged on its recent ability to adapt and learn from past experiences.

He cited an earlier series against Sri Lanka this year, where England initially faltered but quickly adjusted their approach to win the series, a feat not achieved by any team in four years. Root acknowledged that in the Edgbaston match of the current series, the team did not assess the situation or the pitch as effectively as desired. However, he noted that they subsequently learned from that experience, which informed their successful approach in the Cardiff innings.

The top order for England has faced difficulties, as the team continues its search for a consistent opening partner for Ben Duckett. Jacob Bethell, who has played only 23 ODIs, has scored 14 and four in his new role. Root, along with former captain Jos Buttler, are the only remaining batters from England‘s 2019 World Cup-winning side, with 191 and 201 ODI caps respectively. Root remains optimistic that this new group can still achieve similar success.

He expressed satisfaction that the team found a winning method in Cardiff that might not align with the customary playing styles of some individuals, viewing it as a significant step forward against the top-ranked team in the world. The series decider against India is scheduled to be played at Lord’s on Sunday, presenting a high-pressure game ahead of the World Cup.

Root’s Masterclass and Record Achievement

In the second ODI at Cardiff, Joe Root delivered a masterclass in chasing, guiding England to a four-wicket victory over India. He remained unbeaten on 99 runs, an innings that not only helped level the three-match series 1-1 but also saw him surpass Virat Kohli in terms of batting average in successful ODI run chases. Root walked in at the very start of England‘s innings after Ben Duckett was dismissed for a duck, absorbing initial pressure from Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna before taking control of the 234-run chase.

His composed 99 not out came off 133 deliveries and included nine boundaries. Root anchored England‘s innings, forming crucial partnerships with Sam Curran, Will Jacks, and Gus Atkinson to lead the team to victory. This innings also propelled Root past Virat Kohli in the list of highest batting averages in successful ODI run chases, for players with a minimum of 2,000 runs. The top averages in this category include MS Dhoni (102.71), Joe Root (91.59), Virat Kohli (89.07), AB de Villiers (82.77), and Michael Clarke (73.86).

Following the victory, Root stated that the team’s success was more important than his personal milestone of reaching a century. He expressed that being present at the end to secure the win is arguably the most fulfilling feeling in cricket, emphasising that players compete to win games, not for individual records. He noted that the series is now alive, which was the primary objective for the day.

Root reflected on the challenging batting conditions throughout the match, commending England‘s bowlers for their efforts in restricting India after a threatening partnership between Virat Kohli (65) and Shreyas Iyer (66). He mentioned that the bowlers’ performance provided England with a chaseable total. Root acknowledged the necessity of batting for extended periods, absorbing pressure, and maintaining composure. He added that sometimes a victory needs to be achieved through a gritty and less elegant performance, and the match in Cardiff was one such instance.

India, after being asked to bat first at Sophia Gardens, initially held a strong position. Despite a 114-run stand between Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer that took them to 180/3, a subsequent middle-order collapse saw them lose their last seven wickets for 53 runs, resulting in an all-out score of 233. Jofra Archer (3/47) and Gus Atkinson (3/50) were key performers with the ball for England, while Jasprit Bumrah‘s unbeaten 20 helped India surpass the 230-run mark.

England‘s chase began poorly, with Jasprit Bumrah dismissing Ben Duckett on the first ball, and Prasidh Krishna reducing the hosts to 8/2. However, Joe Root‘s superb 99 not out, supported by Will Jacks (30), Sam Curran (26), and Gus Atkinson (23), stabilised the innings. Gus Atkinson hit the winning boundary, securing a four-wicket victory and leaving Root just one run short of a century. The three-match ODI series is now tied at 1-1, with the decider scheduled for July 19 at Lord’s.

Source: bbc.com

Rohan Gupta

Sports Reporter