SL vs ENG 2026: ‘To have him in the side just helps every day’ – Harry Brook credits Joe Root’s influence after 2-1 series win

Harry Brook [L] and Joe Root [R] (Source: Sameera Peiris/Getty Images)

England’s white-ball captain Harry Brook has come out in full praise of the experienced batter Joe Root‘s impact on the former after the side secured a 2-1 finish against Sri Lanka and won the three-match ODI series. Brook and Root combined to forge a massive unbeaten 191-run stand in a match where the visitors won the series decider by a handsome 53-run margin.

Brook also expressed happiness for the 350-plus total England posted in the series-deciding clash through the batting efforts from himself (136* off 66), Root (111* off 108) and Jacob Bethell (65 off 72).

“It was an awesome effort from everybody involved. Rooty is just exceptional. To have him in the side just helps every day. That was an exceptional performance by the lads. I was working on a few things with Rooty in the nets yesterday, and luckily it paid off today. I felt good and I’m glad that me, Rooty and Beth [Jacob Bethell] could get us to that total,” stated Brook during the post-match ceremony.

My role in this team is pretty obvious: Root

Root, who secured the Player of the Series award for registering 247 runs in three matches, shared that he was happy to be adapting to a fresh role with age and still be able to win games for the team. The legendary batter accepted that he is ageing, and the only way to make himself an essential part of the side is to adapt to the different roles and help other players move forward.

“More than anything, you just want to win games and contribute to winning games. My role in this team is pretty obvious, and it’s nice to try and help the younger guys come through now, I’ve got a bit older. As you play, your role in that aspect changes all the time. So, it’s just moving along with that and trying to help those other guys come through,” Root added.

Root and Brook emerged as the series’ first and second leading run-getters, respectively. England, who had lost the first match, came back brilliantly to make the series theirs. Three T20Is will follow the 50-over leg, as both teams will aim to fine-tune their preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup, scheduled to be played in the subcontinent across February and March.

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