Root’s main focus for franchises will be their ability against spin, especially after the IPL returns to a home-and-away format in 2023. He also provides a bowling option with his off-break, and often bowls in the powerplay during his sporadic T20 appearances. .
At 31, Root’s calendar is a little clearer without the burden of captaincy. After a two-month break, following the final Test of the summer against South Africa, he is currently in the United Arab Emirates as England prepare for their three-Test tour of Pakistan in early December.
From there, the next Test engagement is a two-match series against New Zealand in February 2023. It is likely that Root could feature in the ODIs in South Africa and the three ODIs included in the white-ball tour of Bangladesh in March. of the 50-over World Cup in India later this year, but is expected to be available for most of the IPL season. England’s first Test of the summer of 2023, against Ireland at Lord’s, starts on June 1.
Addressing the Mail on Sunday, Root said he hoped a potential IPL gig would go some way to making up for the blind spots he has developed in the shortest format, given he has only 11 appearances since the start of 2021 (Yorkshire and for Trent Rockets). Indian conditions will be another bonus ahead of the World Cup in October.
“I don’t have any thoughts or feelings about retirement or slowing down or playing lesser formats,” Root said. “If anything, I feel a bit more free with my time. I always rested for the T20s and I feel like I got away from the format because I didn’t play enough.
“You can feel you’ve been left behind a little bit. Now, the next couple of years, to explore playing that format a little bit more and see how far I can take that aspect of my game. I am
“That’s especially true because of how we’re trying to play as a Test team now. Looking at the game through the lens of T20, will it benefit my Test cricket?”
