In challenging times, we often turn to familiar comforts—a cozy blanket, your favorite meal, or Joe Root.

England kick off their Champions Trophy campaign against Australia on Saturday, finding themselves in a tough position after losing four consecutive 50-over series. However, they can take solace in the presence of their most reliable batter.

“I never retired,” says Root, who made his return to one-day internationals earlier this month after last playing in the 2023 World Cup in India. “I’ve never said I don’t want to play this format.”

Root, seated in England’s team hotel in Lahore, chuckles when asked if a pivotal conversation with captain Jos Butler or coach Brendon McCullum cemented his return to the ODI side.

“I don’t think there needed to be one, really,” Root says. “No player has a divine right to be selected.”

The Champions Trophy remains the only major trophy absent from England’s collection.

This tournament also signals the beginning of their journey toward the 2027 World Cup, set to be held in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.

Root has previously expressed his desire to be part of that World Cup, which is expected to conclude just a month before his 37th birthday.

Should England qualify, they will aim to reclaim the title they famously won in 2019 but surrendered disappointingly in 2023.

“Of course, you have to perform,” Root says. “You have to consistently deliver and contribute to the team, ensuring you’re adding value, not holding it back.”

“I’ve never been one to look too far ahead or say, ‘I want to play until this point or that point.’ You have to earn the right and keep giving back to the team.”

To even entertain the idea that Joe Root could hold England back highlights his humility.

Whether as a young prankster, captain, or seasoned veteran, no batter has contributed more runs to England across all formats than the Yorkshireman.

Yet, even Root hasn’t been immune to the struggles that have plagued England’s ODI batting since their 2019 World Cup triumph.

With limited opportunities, Root has averaged 29.92 over the past five and a half years and has yet to score a century.

At the World Cup in India, he managed three fifties but, like his teammates, couldn’t halt England’s downward spiral.

“Anyone who says, ‘I have no regrets’ or ‘I wouldn’t change anything,’ at any stage of their career, is lying,” says Root, who also reached double figures in all three innings during England’s recent tour of India, with a highest score of 69.

“You’d change certain things, but in terms of how I approach this tournament, no, not really. What’s happened has happened.”

Root spoke shortly after England’s first training session in Lahore. He spent time in the nets before joining Harry Brook for a separate drill on an AstroTurf strip, away from the main group.

This is why Root strongly disagrees with claims that England didn’t train hard enough in India—a criticism leveled by his former teammate Kevin Pietersen.

“They don’t come to training,” Root says. “They don’t see what we do or how we operate.”

However, Root doesn’t deny that England have struggled to find their rhythm in 50-over batting.

While Tests are about scoring as many runs as possible and T20s about scoring quickly, ODIs require a balance between the two.

Fans often urge Root to “just play like Joe Root” to rediscover his best form, but he insists it’s not that straightforward.

“I can’t think of any two innings I’ve played that were exactly the same,” he says. “The art of batting is assessing the conditions, managing the situation, and consistently making good decisions under pressure.”

Root’s last ODI century came during the 2019 World Cup group stage against West Indies.

Back then, Eoin Morgan was sidelined, Jason Roy injured his hamstring, Chris Woakes batted at number three, and England still won by eight wickets with 16.5 overs to spare.

Much has changed since. Under Brendon McCullum and Jos Butler, England are navigating a new era while trying to live up to the legacy of arguably their greatest-ever side.

The comparison is inevitable but not burdensome for Root.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a negative,” says Root, one of five surviving members of the 2019 World Cup-winning squad.

“That team inspired many in this group. Some of these players were still in school or just starting their careers back then.”

The reduction of ODI fixtures—Root played 89 matches between the 2015 and 2019 World Cups but only 31 since—and the downgrading of England’s domestic 50-over competition have made it harder for the team to regain their dominance.

Root has previously called for more regular opportunities for players, and while little has changed, he remains optimistic about England’s potential.

“It’s just going to take something different,” he says. “We don’t have the same opportunities now, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be as successful. We just have to overcome different challenges.”

“Can we speed up the process by having smart conversations, sharing experiences, and ensuring we deliver in crucial moments?

I believe we have the right players and the talent to do that.”