Il Messaggiere - Root denied World Cup prep as rain washes out Ireland ODI

NYSE - LSE

CMSD	0.09%	21.18	$
JRI	-0.32%	12.4	$
CMSC	0.16%	21.31	$
RBGPF	-0.62%	70.69	$
VOD	-0.38%	15.88	$
BCC	-1.49%	78.77	$
RYCEF	-0.48%	20.75	$
AZN	-1.06%	164.52	$
BP	-0.38%	42.34	$
BCE	-0.38%	23.4	$
NGG	-1.38%	79.43	$
RIO	0.08%	104.78	$
GSK	-2.31%	50.27	$
BTI	-2.06%	56.28	$
RELX	2.64%	36.3	$

Root denied World Cup prep as rain washes out Ireland ODI / Photo: Oli SCARFF - AFP

Root denied World Cup prep as rain washes out Ireland ODI

SPORTS 20.09.2023

England's opening one-day international against Ireland was abandoned without a ball being bowled on Wednesday, denying Joe Root a World Cup warm-up.

Text size:

With the rest of England's first-choice squad rested ahead of next week's departure for India, Root requested to be included for the first of a three-match series after a lean return with the bat in four matches against New Zealand.

However, he never got on the field at his home ground as heavy rain prevented even the possibility of a 20-over-a-side game at Headingley.

Even after the rain subsided, the umpires were concerned for the players' safety on saturated areas of the outfield and the bowlers' run-ups.

The sides will try again at Trent Bridge on Saturday.

England begin their defence of the World Cup against New Zealand on October 5 in Ahmedabad.

L.Bernardi--IM