Joe Root, England's cricket talisman, has shown a resurgence in his white-ball career, highlighted by his match-winning 166 against West Indies. Despite previously feeling the need to justify his place and experiencing a 'white-ball recession' between 2019 and 2023 (including going unsold in the IPL auction and being dropped from the T20 side), Root has now surpassed Eoin Morgan as England's leading ODI run-scorer. The article praises his classical style, timing over power, and continued desire to learn and conquer new challenges at age 34, suggesting that pure talent can still thrive amidst the modern game's emphasis on power hitting.
Joe Root’s greatness is shining anew in the evening of his white-ball career
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️Joe Root, England's cricket talisman, has shown a resurgence in his white-ball career, highlighted by his match-winning 166 against West Indies. Despite previously feeling the need to justify his place and experiencing a 'white-ball recession' between 2019 and 2023 (including going unsold in the IPL auction and being dropped from the T20 side), Root has now surpassed Eoin Morgan as England's leading ODI run-scorer. The article praises his classical style, timing over power, and continued desire to learn and conquer new challenges at age 34, suggesting that pure talent can still thrive amidst the modern game's emphasis on power hitting.
Trending- 1 2016: Joe Root had one of the all-time great Twenty20 knocks for England against South Africa.
- 2 2018: Root entered IPL auction for first time and went unsold; dropped from T20 side for first time.
- 3 2019-2023: Root played only 19 ODIs, averaged 28.
- 4 2024: Root did not play a single white-ball game for England.
- 5 A few months ago: Root had an interview with ESPNCricinfo during his stint with Paarl Royals.
- 6 Sunday (recent): Root scored match-winning 166 against West Indies, surpassing Eoin Morgan as England's leading ODI run-scorer.
- Root's continued success
- Surpassing Eoin Morgan's record
- Inspiration for other players
- Debate about the evolution of cricket
What: Joe Root's resurgence and continued greatness in white-ball cricket, exemplified by a recent match-winning innings, despite past struggles and the evolving nature of the game.
When: Sunday (match against West Indies), a few months ago (ESPNCricinfo interview), 2016 (Twenty20 knock against South Africa), 2018 (IPL auction, dropped from T20 side), 2019-2023 (white-ball recession, 19 ODIs), 2024 (no white-ball games for England). Published June 3, 2025.
Where: West Indies (match location), Paarl (South Africa), Lahore (Pakistan).
Why: Root's pure talent, classical style, and continued dedication to learning and growing allow him to excel despite not fitting the modern power-hitting mold.
How: Root plays with gentle nudges, classical drives, timing over power; he scored 166 against West Indies; he has adapted his game and mindset.