'England can learn from phenomenal Root' - but are they doing so?

England can learn from 'phenomenal' Joe Root after match-winning 99 not out vs India in second ODI, says Harry Brook Captain Harry Brook says Joe Root's ODI innings vs India a template of how to rotate strike; Root struck just nine boundaries across his 133-ball 99 not out; batter has now scored 286 runs in ODIs without being dismissed; this knock helps England set up decider at Lord's on Sunday (11am) Thursday 16 July 2026 22:53, UK Joe Root bails England out of trouble. Sound familiar? Root, his country's all-time leading run-scorer across both Test and ODI cricket, is no stranger to coming to the crease with his side in strife and did so again against India in Cardiff on Thursday before going on to hit a victory-securing 99 not out from 133 balls. Root strode out with England 0-1 one delivery into a chase of 234 on a tricky surface after Ben Duckett had been nicked off by Indian magician Jasprit Bumrah for a golden duck. - Joe Root delivers again as England level India ODI series - As it happened in the second ODI at Sophia Gardens - Stream England cricket and more contract-free with NOW - Listen to episodes of the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast Soon enough, that was 8-2 when Jacob Bethell snicked Prasidh Krishna behind. As England subsequently slipped to 53-3 - captain Harry Brook out on the scoop to end a skittish innings which included scooping a ball into his helmet - and 125-5, Root remained unflappable. Root keeps calm - but also shows his anger There was flicker of emotion from the batter when Will Jacks tamely holed out to cover in the 40th over to be sixth out with 35 runs required - Root's irritation was clear - and then a beaming smile when Gus Atkinson pulled away the winning boundary. Atkinson's four left Root stranded one run shy of a 21st ODI century but the England great did not care about that, saying being there at the end of a series-levelling victory on a tough track was "probably the best feeling in cricket". It was a masterclass from Root in how to pace a chase when run-rate was no great concern - he was on four from 21 balls amid the India bowling barrage before getting into his groove and only hit nine fours in total - and one Brook feels is a template for team-mates. The England skipper said of Root afterwards: "He is phenomenal player. You can learn so much off him, in the changing room as well. He is a great bloke to have around. "He always seems to turn up when we need him the most. He has been one of the best in the world for many years now at rotating strike. "I remember an innings he played a couple of years ago when he only hit three fours and got a hundred." Do other England batters value their wicket like Root? Root has now racked up 286 runs across his last three ODI innings without being dismissed following knocks off 111 not out in Sri Lanka in January and then an unbeaten 76 in the six-wicket defeat to India in Tuesday's series opener at Edgbaston. The 35-year-old has passed fifty in each of his last five ODI knocks. Sky Sports' Mark Butcher said: "Over the course of a long stretch of time, Root has been in batting line-ups that have lived up to expectations or fallen short. "At the moment, in both Test and ODI cricket, he is holding the fort almost by himself. You wonder at times whether some of the players around him are learning that lesson about valuing your wicket. "Sometimes it is as simple as that. 'How valuable is my wicket and am I willing to guts it out through the hard times, or am I going to donate my wicket to the opposition and leave it up to somebody else?' "Root does not leave it up to other people." England vs India results and fixtures All times UK and Ireland, all games live on Sky Sports - First T20 (Durham) - Match abandoned - Second T20 (Old Trafford) - England won by four wickets - Third T20 (Trent Bridge) - England won by 125 runs - Fourth T20 (Bristol) - England won by nine wickets - Fifth T20 (Southampton) - England won by 56 runs - First ODI (Edgbaston - India win by six wickets - Second ODI (Cardiff) - England win by four wickets - Third ODI (Lord's) - Sunday July 19 (11am)