Unfurling the sweep and reverse sweep, Root teased the spinners, milked the singles with soft hands and rotated strike intelligently. His 81-run fourth-wicket stand with Brook took the sting out of the chase with Root bringing up his half-century off just 52 balls.

After another masterclass in Asian conditions, BBC Sport breaks down how Joe Root stands out as a brilliant player of spin bowling.

Sri Lanka clinched a close contest in the first ODI in Colombo, beating England by 19 runs. Kusal Mendis (93*) and Janith Liyanage (46) took the hosts to 271 for 6 before they bowled out England for 252 in the chase.

Joe Root has started 2026 on a stunning note, slamming a fluent century in the fifth Ashes Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Monday, January 5. The former England Test captain has not played a T20I since May 2019. However, he featured ...

Joe Root scored his 20th ODI century against Sri Lanka in the final match of the series between the two sides in Colombo. Katya Witney ranks all of those hundreds, from worst to best.

Joe Root starred with both bat and ball as England pulled one back to level the ODI series against Sri Lanka. Having picked the final two wickets of the Sri Lankan innings, Root hit a crucial 75 in the run chase as England won the second ODI in Colombo by five wickets with almost four overs to spare.