Weekly cricket round-up as Joe Root fights to win T20 World Cup place; IPL latest

Root reminds selectors of T20 talents

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting once argued that cricketers were their own selector, and that performances on the field were the only thing to guarantee favour when it came to selection. Ponting was one of Australian's great players and Joe Root - an Englishman once destined to finish his career with the same tag - appears determined to leave Ed Smith and his selection panel with no choice but to make the Yorkshireman a firm part of England's plans for next year's World T20 World Cup.

It wasn't so long ago that Root was a major part of England's T20 side, but his axing for the series decider against India back in 2018 was a turning point in England's approach to that format, and while top-order colleagues Jonny Bairstow, Jason Roy and Dawid Malan have since firmed up their own credentials - and Jos Buttler's IPL form has demanded he now bats at the top of the order - Root has seen his opportunities in the shorter form of the game become more and more limited.

To his credit, Root has continued to state his commitment to T20 cricket and when he was finally afforded some time off from international commitments in the winter of 2018/2019, he took the chance to develop his skills in Australia's Big Bash when turning out for the Sydney Thunder. It was just another example of Root not letting his foot off the gas; trying to squeeze every drop out of his career.

Still, T20 cricket is always the first port of call if England feel their Test captain is in need of a rest - often to Root's frustration - and that has seen him fall even further down the pecking order, in contrast to his 50-over game which has grown year on year and helped him finish the successful 2019 World Cup campaign as England's leading runscorer.

Nevertheless, Root refuses to accept that his international T20 career is over and while many of his teammates jetted off for the bright lights of the IPL or take well-earned breaks at the conclusion of England's condensed international summer - played out in the unique demands of a bio-secure bubble - the 29-year-old turned out for Yorkshire in the Vitality Blast the very next day even after their hopes of qualifying for Finals Day had evaporated.

Root's return wasn't enough to stop Yorkshire slipping to defeat at Lancashire on Thursday but he still contributed a classy 64 with the bat, as well as two wickets with the ball, before adding 60 not out to guide the Vikings to victory over Derbyshire on Sunday.

Those runs took Root's aggregate for the tournament to 278 from five matches at a staggering average of 69.50. Crucially, Root's strike-rate was an impressive 144.79 while his much-improved off spin picked up seven wickets at under seven runs per over.

Given that Root became a father for the second time in July - coupled with the vast demands placed on his shoulders as Test captain - it is admirable that Root has thrown himself back into T20 cricket. His desire to improve his game, fight for his England place, and above all else, help out his struggling county who have lost four players to Covid-19 in the last week says everything about his mentality and principle.

Root has been a fantastic player for club, county and country, and a T20I average of 35.72 is a number that will remain hard to ignore, particularly ahead of a World Cup in India where his ability to rotate the strike against spin on turning pitches would surely be a valuable asset. His handy off spin bowling adds a further tick in his box.

Above all else, Root continues to show himself to be a fine man; a team man of sound character who you'd always want in your trenches in the heat of battle. Root has already played a major role in one World Cup victory for England and he appears desperate to repeat the feat next winter. I wouldn't bet against him doing so.

Ponting moulding dangerous Delhi

Having opened the piece with an anecdote about Ricky Ponting, I can't resist making him a running theme and having taken in the opening weekend of this year's delayed IPL, I have been left wondering whether the Australian can lead Dehli Capitals to title glory this year.

Dehli have been one of the worst performing franchises in IPL history - they finished last of eight in 2018 - but Ponting is now into his third season as head coach and is beginning to mould a talented group of individuals into something resembling the steely, well-drilled Australian machine he captained to so much glory in the early 2000's.

Dehli were much improved when reaching the playoffs and eventually finishing third in 2019 and Ponting and his team look to have recruited smartly at the latest auction, adding Marcus Stoinis, Ravi Ashwin and Ajinkya Rahane to their ranks.

Rahane didn't feature in their thrilling Super Over victory over Kings XI Punjab on Sunday, but Stoinis' blistering 21-ball 53 helped Dehli recover from a woeful start with the bat to allow his side to post a competitive total of 157-8, while Ashwin picked up two wickets in his first over before injuring his left shoulder when fielding.

The capture of the experienced campaigner had appeared to be a smart piece of business from Delhi but while his injury - and expected absence - promises to be an early blow, the fact they were able to manage without Ashwin's services for the rest of the match and still come out on top having only had one run to defend with three balls remaining says plenty about Delhi's character.

It felt almost inevitable that Dehli would go on to win the following Super Over and two wickets in two balls from Kagiso Rabada duly put Kings XI Punjab out of their misery. Victory for Dehli - overcoming Ashwin's unfortunate injury and somehow keeping themselves in that final over - felt, dare I say it, almost Australian.

Looking from the outside in, it appears that Ponting is working his magic on a hugely talented squad that has so often boasted more potential than final product. The winning mentality that seemingly runs through Ponting's veins was etched in Delhi's performance on Sunday and with a strong attack bowling to go to war with - one which features Rabada, Anrich Nortje and the ever-dependable Axar Patel - they will surely continue to pack a punch over the next few weeks.

He's some boy, that Ricky Ponting.