David Lloyd wants England to bring back Root for the T20 World Cup

England Test skipper, Joe Root last played a T20I for England in May 2019. He is also not part of the current squad that’s playing a 5 match T20I series against India. With the World Cup not far away, one would believe that England have moved on from Root in T20 cricket. However, former England cricketer, David Llyod has opined that Eoin Morgan will recall Root for the mega event in India later this year. Llyod backed his claims by saying that Root is England’s best player of spin and will be vital for them in the World Cup. 

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"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," wrote Llyod for his column in Daily Mail.

Lloyd further added that it was a smart move by England to rest Root for the India series.

"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."

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The current England squad looks packed and it will be interesting to see how England accommodate Root in their set up. While Llyod wants Root in the T20 squad, he is concerned that it might affect England’s preparation for the Ashes.

"My one concern is the end of the World Cup overlapping with the build-up to the Ashes in November, and if Root is involved in India, his Test team will have to begin preparations without him," Lloyd added

Talking about Root’s T20I statistics, he averages around 36 in 32 T20Is and has scored 893 runs at a strike rate of 136.30.