Joe Root back in England T20 set-up for India and Australia series

Joe Root back in England T20 set-up for India and Australia series

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Joe Root, for the first time since September 2017, has made a comeback to the England T20 set-up for the series against Australia and India. His comeback means Dawid Malan has been dropped out despite an impressive run of form that saw him hit 3 half-centuries 4 games during the Trans-Tasman series.

On the advice of Andrew Strauss, Root decided to focus only on Test format and 50-over-format so as to keep him fresh for the upcoming World Cup at home. Although he has shown his desire to be a part of the team for the Trans-Tasman T20Is in order to find a bidder in the Indian Premier League auctions, he did not get receive a call up from the Three Lions. However, after Andrew Flower took over the reins as the interim ECB director of cricket, he decided to pick Root in the team for the upcoming series against Australia and India.

However, his presence in the team has cost talented Middlesex batsman Dawid Malan a place in the side. The top-order blistering batsman, who recently scored three half-centuries in four matches of the Trans Tasman T20Is, would now have to play the upcoming Natwest T20 Blast so as to merit a place in the side. In a good news for Surrey, Curran brothers - Tom and Sam - are set to become the first brothers to be in the same England team in this century. Earlier, Ben and Adam Hollioake, who also played all their cricket for Surrey - had played for England in an ODI against Sri Lanka in Sydney in 1999. 

However, both Chris Woakes and Ben Stokes will not be a part of the India series due to injuries. While Stokes missed the first two matches of the Australia series with a hamstring tear sustained during the Pakistan Test series, Woakes injured his right quad during that game and both were subsequently ruled out of the start of England's limited-overs summer. However, now Stokes is expected to be in the squad throughout the series as he continues his rehabilitation. 

While there is no place for Sam Billings and Mark Wood in the team, Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, and Jake Ball, who were rested for the tri-series, have been recalled to the team. While England will play the only T20I against Australia on June 27 in Edgbaston - the same day that India will lock horns with Ireland in Malahide - the team will take on India in the T20I series, starting July 3 at the Emirates Old Trafford. 

England T20I squad

Eoin Morgan (captain), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Tom Curran, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, David Willey

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