England T20 door remains open to Joe Root but Yorkshire team-mate David Willey left frustrated again

Joe Root has been omitted from England’s 14-man squad to face Australia in three Twenty20 internationals but national selector Ed Smith insists “no doors are closed” to the Test captain.
England's David Willey punches through the off side against Ireland at the Ageas Bowl. Picture: Mike Hewitt/NMC Pool/PAEngland's David Willey punches through the off side against Ireland at the Ageas Bowl. Picture: Mike Hewitt/NMC Pool/PA
England's David Willey punches through the off side against Ireland at the Ageas Bowl. Picture: Mike Hewitt/NMC Pool/PA

The Yorkshireman and Chris Woakes are included in a 13-strong squad for the one-day series which follows as a number of Test stars became available for white-ball duty for the first time this summer.

But ahead of a T20 series which gets under way on Friday at the Ageas Bowl, Tom Banton and Yorkshire’s Dawid Malan have been selected ahead of Root, whose workload and the fact he is no longer an automatic T20 pick contributed to his exclusion.

“I don’t think any door is closed to Joe,” said Smith.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad
Yorkshire Vikings' Joe Root top-scored with 65 against Notts Outlaws on Monday, but it was still not enough to get him picked for the England T20 squad. Picture: Mike Egerton/PAYorkshire Vikings' Joe Root top-scored with 65 against Notts Outlaws on Monday, but it was still not enough to get him picked for the England T20 squad. Picture: Mike Egerton/PA
Yorkshire Vikings' Joe Root top-scored with 65 against Notts Outlaws on Monday, but it was still not enough to get him picked for the England T20 squad. Picture: Mike Egerton/PA

“He’s a brilliant cricketer, an outstanding man and he’s also England’s Test captain.

“He plays so much cricket, gives so much to England and the decision is it’s not right we have him in the squad if he’s not likely to be starting, so he’s not in the squad for the T20s.

“Joe is an exceptionally adaptable and outstanding batsman and he could easily come back into the reckoning but at the moment that’s where he sits.”

Yorkshire;’s David Willey, along with Reece Topley, Liam Dawson and James Vince, make way from the ODI squad which beat Ireland 2-1 earlier this summer.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad
FRUSTRATION: Yorkshire's David Willey has been left out of England's T20 and ODI squads for the forthcoming series' against Australia. Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.comFRUSTRATION: Yorkshire's David Willey has been left out of England's T20 and ODI squads for the forthcoming series' against Australia. Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com
FRUSTRATION: Yorkshire's David Willey has been left out of England's T20 and ODI squads for the forthcoming series' against Australia. Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com

Willey is also discarded from a T20 group that is currently facing Pakistan. He was named player of the series against Ireland as he returned to the international stage for the first time since being replaced by Jofra Archer for last year’s World Cup.

But as England start building towards next year’s T20 World Cup in India, Smith admitted it had left Willey surplus to requirements.

“David’s come back having put in a lot of hard work,” added Smith, “That’s been reflected in some very strong performances.

“The fact is with David, at the moment we are preferring some other people to him.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It is of course disappointing for David – he’s playing good cricket – but that’s one of the unfortunate consequences of having a lot of strength in depth.”

Before Australia, England will look to seal a sixth successive T20 series win in today’s third and final match against Pakistan.

T20 squad: E Morgan (captain), Moeen Ali, J Archer, J Bairstow, T Banton, S Billings, J Buttler, S Curran, T Curran, J Denly, C Jordan, D Malan, A Rashid, M Wood. Reserves: L Livingstone, S Mahmood.

ODI squad: E Morgan (captain), Moeen Ali, J Archer, J Bairstow, T Banton, S Billings, J Buttler, S Curran, T Curran, A Rashid, J Root, C Woakes, M Wood. Reserves: J Denly, S Mahmood.

Support The Yorkshire Post and become a subscriber today.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Your subscription will help us to continue to bring quality news to the people of Yorkshire. In return, you’ll see fewer ads on site, get free access to our app and receive exclusive members-only offers.

So, please - if you can - pay for our work. Just £5 per month is the starting point. If you think that which we are trying to achieve is worth more, you can pay us what you think we are worth. By doing so, you will be investing in something that is becoming increasingly rare. Independent journalism that cares less about right and left and more about right and wrong. Journalism you can trust.

Thank you, James Mitchinson. Editor.

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.