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In a surprising turn of events, Joe Root has been added to England’s ODI squad for the upcoming clash against Ireland at Headingley on Wednesday (September 20). Root’s inclusion comes as a result of his personal request, as he seeks to rediscover his form after a somewhat underwhelming performance in the recent ODI series against New Zealand.
Joe Root’s recent struggles in ODIs
It is worth mentioning that Root had a tough outing against Blackcaps in the four-match ODI leg. He managed to score only 6, 0, and 4 runs in the first three games before mustering a gritty 29 runs in the final game. Nevertheless, the 30-year-old right-handed batter now seems to be determined to regain his rhythm in 50-over cricket with the important ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 on the cards.
Joe Root replaces Harry Brook for the first ODI against Ireland
Root stepped into the squad for the opening match of the three-game ODI home series against Ireland, replacing young sensation Harry Brook from initially announced team. This unexpected change comes on the heels of Brook’s inclusion in England’s final 15-man World Cup squad on Sunday. Consequently, Jason Roy faced an axe to make way for Brook.
Also READ: Ravichandran Ashwin returns as BCCI announces India squad for Australia ODIs
Jofra Archer’s return to travel to India with England’s ODI World Cup 2023 squad
In addition to Root’s return, there’s also took place another significant development in England’s cricketing world as the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) decided to include the fiery pace sensation, Jofra Archer, as a travelling reserve for England’s 2023 World Cup campaign.
Archer had initially been omitted from the 15-member World Cup squad due to an ongoing elbow injury. However, he has been diligently training with the team over the past week and will now accompany his teammates to India. The same was confirmed by England selector Luke Wright, who said that Archer will continue his rehab during the period. He even spoke about the possibility of Archer’s entry into the team in the later part of the event.
“The best thing for Jofra is to travel with the team and keep working with his rehab and being around the physios and the team. We are doing all we can to get him ready to be as good as he can be,” said Wright.
“If there was an injury he might be able to replace at the back end of the tournament but obviously we are still working on his fitness day-by-day and we’ll have to keep accessing that,” he added.
The decision to include Archer as a travelling reserve speaks volumes about the faith that the selectors and team management have in his ability to recover and contribute to the team’s success. Archer’s menacing pace and ability to deliver in high-pressure situations make him an invaluable asset for England, and his presence in the squad will undoubtedly boost their chances at the upcoming World Cup.
