England’s seasoned batsman, Joe Root, is seizing a valuable opportunity to refine his skills ahead of the upcoming World Cup. In the one-day international series opener against Ireland, scheduled for Wednesday, Root is the lone member of the World Cup squad who will be participating.

Root proactively requested to be included in the squad, particularly at his home ground, Headingley. His aim is to gain additional batting practice, aiming to regain the form that eluded him during recent matches against New Zealand.

As England prepares to defend their World Cup title, with the tournament commencing in India on October 5, Root’s presence in the Ireland series holds significance. It provides him with one more opportunity to fine-tune his game and find his rhythm before the World Cup kicks off.

For Zak Crawley, who is stepping in as the white-ball captain for the Ireland series in place of the resting Jos Buttler, Root’s presence is a welcome addition. Crawley expressed his enthusiasm about having Root on the team, especially given Root’s vast experience and cricketing acumen.

Crawley sees Root not only as a formidable batsman but also as a mentor and role model. He believes that having Root in the side will be tremendously useful, particularly as a resource for strategic insights and guidance.

Crawley reflected, “It’s great having him here. Especially so for me as captain, because I can lean on him for that kind of stuff. I played under him for a long time and stood next to him at slip when he was Test captain. It’s great to have him in the team, and I will look to him. He’s a great cricket brain and experienced guy.”