Root shows no ill-effects after nightclub attack and is ready to face Sri Lanka, insists Cook

ENGLAND captain Alastair Cook has confirmed that Yorkshire batsman Joe Root will play against Sri Lanka today despite the intense spotlight that has fallen on him since he was punched by Australia’s David Warner in a Birmingham bar in the early hours of Sunday morning.
England's Joe Root (right) with Head Coach Ashley GilesEngland's Joe Root (right) with Head Coach Ashley Giles
England's Joe Root (right) with Head Coach Ashley Giles

Root has not pressed charges and Cook has no problems with the fact that he was out at such a late time.

“You don’t often get to win international games,’’ said Cook.

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“We had two days off as a team. When the schedule allows and when it’s within certain parameters it’s good to let your hair down.

“We are clearly disappointed that the incident has happened, but after investigating it from our side, we don’t believe we have done anything wrong.”

Root trained with his team-mates yesterday morning and is available for England’s Champions Trophy Group B game against Sri Lanka at The Oval.

“He seems fine, there are no physical injuries,’’ said Cook. “He just wants to bury the matter. He is an excellent young man, he has been excellent since coming in.

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“It was unfortunate but he wants to put it behind him, it’s important that he plays.’’

Speaking after rain washed out his side’s clash with New Zealand before a result was possible, Australia’s stand-in captain George Bailey last night described it as “a very minor incident”.

Bailey did his best to speak up on his team-mate’s behalf, albeit stumbling across an unfortunate turn of phrase when asked how Warner had reacted to being left out.

“I thought he took it on the chin,” said Bailey, before adding “No pun intended.

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“It’s disappointing from my point of view, but it’s a very minor incident and it’s being dealt with in-house.”

Root and the rest of his team-mates, meanwhile, will have to deal with the threat of Lasith Malinga today if they are to succeed.

Malinga’s ability to bowl flat, often slow, yorkers has bamboozled batsmen across the world and he has a good record in England.

The 29-year-old took four wickets during Sri Lanka’s narrow defeat to New Zealand in their Group B opener last week, but Cook is sure England can handle him.

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“Malinga has improved that slower ball and he has looked dangerous,” said Cook.

“It’s something we have to be aware of and we have looked at footage of it.

“If you get used to facing him you can get in to a rhythm.

“If we can play him well as a unit it can really put Sri Lanka under some pressure.”

England will have Graeme Swann back among their ranks after beating Australia by 48 runs in their curtain-raiser at Edgbaston last Sunday without the spinner, who was suffering from a back problem.

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The Nottinghamshire player, who took eight wickets against Sri Lanka when they toured England in 2011, trained with his team-mates yesterday and is expected to be fit enough to replace James Tredwell.

“Swanny is fit,” said Cook. “His injury was a strange one.

“He must have jarred his back in training and woke up with a stiff back the next day. That can happen but at the moment he is back and available for selection.”

England took first blood in their long battle with old foe Australia last Saturday as they cruised to victory thanks to 91 from Ian Bell and three wickets from James Anderson.

The performance was a marked improvement on the team’s efforts earlier this summer when they fell to a shock 2-1 ODI series defeat against New Zealand.

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Cook believes his team are back on track, which bodes well ahead of a crucial seven months for English cricket.

“The win against Australia was a good one, as was the last one against New Zealand,” added the England captain.

“The first two games against New Zealand (where England lost at Lord’s and at the Rose Bowl), seem to be out of the way.

“We seem to have recovered a bit of form and confidence now.”