Root takes commanding lead in England MVP Rankings

Root takes commanding lead in England MVP Rankings Joe Root has opened up a 42 points lead in England’s overall Professional Cricketers’ Association Most Valuable Player Rankings for the summer. England’s new Test captain became the first player to reach 100 rankings points for the summer when he made a century in the opening match of the ICC Champions Trophy against Bangladesh at the Oval. Root followed up with 64, at almost a run-a-ball, to help England defeat New Zealand in Cardiff on Tuesday, a win that secured their place in the semi-finals. England complete their group programme against Australia at Edgbaston on Saturday when Root will be looking to add to his haul of 118 rankings points. Root started the season with two 30-plus hauls in the two match series against Ireland and, after a less productive series against South Africa, he earned 26 points for his 133 against Bangladesh which made up 43 per cent of England’s total. His half century against New Zealand secured 17 more points to put Root clear of Alex Hales whose 56 against New Zealand was his fourth half century in seven One Day Internationals this season. Hales earned 24 PCA MVP points for his 95 against Bangladesh and 15 for his runs against New Zealand to take him to 76 for the season. The PCA MVP Rankings system identifies the match-winners and key influencers of matches throughout the domestic season. The formula takes into account conditions, quality of opposition, captaincy and strike-rates as well as runs scored and wickets taken. Root is also the highest-ranked member of England’s Champions Trophy squad in the all-time overall England rankings since the PCA MVP system was introduced in 2007. He is in seventh place on 1,760 career points with Eoin Morgan, England’s white ball captain, eighth with 1,594 points and Ben Stokes 14th with 1,160. Morgan heads England’s all-time rankings in One Day International cricket with 1,097 points, with James Anderson second on 911, Stuart Broad third on 904, Ian Bell fourth on 821 and Root fifth with 820. Morgan is third in this season’s England rankings on 71 points with paceman Liam Plunkett fourth on 70. Plunkett started the Champions Trophy with four for 59 and 10 rankings points against Bangladesh and improved on those figures in Cardiff where he undermined New Zealand’s run chase with four more wickets and 19 PCA MVP points. All-rounder Stokes is fifth on 59 points despite missing the Ireland series because of his Indian Premier League commitments and being impeded by a knee injury against South Africa. Stokes made 48 against New Zealand and took one for 46 in eight overs to finish with 13 rankings points. The full England PCA MVP Rankings can be viewed here.