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Eoin Morgan described Joe Root as England’s “most complete batsman” last month after another sensational Twenty20 international innings.
The Yorkshireman has since become the fastest Englishman to 500 sprint-format runs, reaching the landmark in just his 16th innings, and has played a vital role in reaching the ICC World Twenty20 final.
So here ecb.co.uk takes a look at his best five T20I performances to date.
This man is ready for tomorrow. Come on England pic.twitter.com/eEpGnv3NAb
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) April 2, 2016
90 not out versus Australia at the Ageas Bowl in August 2013
Root was not needed with the bat in his first two Twenty20 internationals, against India and New Zealand, but soon showed what he was capable of in Southampton.
England were reeling from the brilliance of Aaron Finch’s world-record score of 156, a 63-ball innings that lifted Australia to 248 for six, before slipping to 42 for four.
Root ensured England would go down fighting, eventually losing by 39 runs, with a superb unbeaten 90 off 49 balls that included 13 fours and a six.
68 against New Zealand at Emirates Old Trafford in June 2015
Root had played a vital role in revitalising England’s limited-overs fortunes that summer and, after a six-match quiet spell in T20I cricket, he contributed a match-winning knock against New Zealand.
The right-hander, in at three, crashed 68 from 46 balls to lift England to 191 for seven, a total that was 56 runs too many for the Black Caps.
48 versus West Indies in Mumbai in March 2016
After providing some-eye catching starts without going on to make big scores against Pakistan and South Africa in the winter, Root left his best knocks for the biggest stage of all at the World T20.
In their first Group 1 outing, he top-scored with 48 from 36 balls in England’s 182 for six, a score that was made to only look below-par due to Chris Gayle’s 47-ball century.
83 against South Africa in Mumbai in March 2016
The innings against the Windies was just a sign of things to come for Root, who then blasted England to an unbelievable triumph over South Africa.
Chasing a mammoth 230 to keep their tournament hopes alive, Root refused to buckle under the intense pressure and smacked 83 from just 44 balls, including six fours and four maximums.
25 versus Sri Lanka in Delhi in March 2016, plus a sensational catch at the death
It may not have been his best, or biggest, innings for England, but Root’s 25 against Sri Lanka saw him break another record.
In just his 16th T20I innings, he became the fastest Englishman to 500 format runs before following it up with arguably a match-winning catch at mid-off.
Root flung himself to his left to cling on two-handed to a Dasun Shanaka drive that was flying for a four that would have left Sri Lanka favourites with 13 required from nine balls.
Instead it left 17 needed and excellent death bowling from Chris Jordan and Ben Stokes saw England qualify for the semi-finals.
Source: ECB