England star batter Joe Root has backed his teammate and opener Jonny Bairstow to top the run-scoring chart at the 2023 World Cup in India. England will be one of the favourites as Jos Buttler-led side will be out to defend their World Cup crown in India. England begin their campaign against New Zealand in a repeat of the 2019 World Cup final in Ahmedabad on October 5 in Ahmedabad.
Jonny Bairstow was not in the best of forms in the ODI series against New Zealand in England earlier this month. The opener scored only 19 runs in 3 matches but the opener’s experience of having played in India in the past and the Indian Premier League exposure will come in handy.
Notably, England dropped Jason Roy, another experienced opener, from their World Cup squad due to injury and picked young middle-order batter Harry Brook. Bairstow will open alongside Dawid Malan at the top of the order. Bairstow averaged 27 in 2022 across 6 matches but the England team management has backed the senior opener to deliver.
“I am going to go for Jonny Bairstow (to be the leading run scorer). He is someone that always has a point to prove, he is a wonderful white-ball player and he has been so consistent for us at the top of the order,” Joe Root told ICC.
Root also said Adil Rashid will trouble opposition batters in the World Cup, backing the leg-spinner to domiante the bowling charts in India at the World Cup.
“He (Rashid) has so many different skills and variations to call upon,” Root added.
“We know how important it is to take wickets in the middle overs…he has done a wonderful job for us for a long time and I anticipate him being very difficult on these wickets.”
ADAPTING TO CONDITIONS
England emerged victorious in the ODI series against New Zealand, beating the visitors 3-1. However, Root acknowledged that adapting to the sub-continent conditions will be key for the defending champions.
England will play 3 ODIs against Ireland at home before heading to the World Cup. England take on India and Bangladesh in their warm-up matches on September 30 and October 2.
“Having the experience of 2019 and how good that was and how much that meant to the group and for them to go out and get the opportunity to defend it is something we are relishing and really looking forward to,” Root said.
“We are going to have to play some really good cricket, we are going to have to adapt to different conditions and have that consistency that you need so we will see how we go.”
