ENG vs WI | Skipper Joe Root returns as Joe Denly faces snubÂ
England skipper Joe Root has revealed that he is back for the 2nd Test, to be held in Manchester, while Joe Denly will face the axe. West Indies registered a four-wicket victory against England in the first Test, in Southampton, as cricket marked its return amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The first Test match between England and West Indies took place in the absence of skipper Joe Root, who was away due to paternity leave. Ben Stokes led the side but failed to seal a victory against Jason Holder’s men at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton. Root revealed, on Wednesday, that he will return for the 2nd Test at Old Trafford on Thursday.
The England Test skipper also confirmed that they have dropped Joe Denly, who managed scores of 18 and 29 in Southampton. Overall, the Kent batsman averages under 30 in Tests and has managed only six half-centuries in 28 innings so far. In the absence of England’s regular No. 4 Joe Root, Zak Crawley had taken the position and also scored a splendid 76. But with Denly not being in the team, Root said that Crawley would be promoted to the No. 3 slot.Â
"It's never an easy decision, never easy having to leave someone out. With Joe over a period of time he's done a brilliant job for us, he's helped show our identity as a side and how we played moving forward. It's a very difficult decision but we've gone a different way. You watch Zak's progression since he's been involved in the team, his game has continued to get stronger. Joe is someone who has done a fantastic job for us over a period of time and he'll be as frustrated as anyone that he's not been able to covert those opportunities," Root told British media on Wednesday.
Apart from Root, England had also missed the services of Stuart Broad in the series-opener in Southampton. The veteran pacer was overlooked for the first Test and the pace duo of Mark Wood and Jofra Archer had featured in that game. England haven’t made a final decision on Broad yet.Â