Root relishes change of fortune

Joe Root insisted England must stay "ruthless" when they go in search of a one-day international series victory over India at his Headingley home ground on Tuesday.

Root's well-constructed 113 laid the platform for an 86-run win at Lord's on Saturday that saw England square the three-match contest at 1-1.

Victory saw England remain at No.1, with India second, in the International Cricket Council men's ODI standings.

It was a win made even more satisfying by the fact England, the 2019 World Cup hosts, had suffered an eight-wicket drubbing in Thursday's series-opener at Trent Bridge.

"That ruthless side of the ODI team really came out today (Saturday)," said Test skipper Root. "And we're seeing it more and more."

"Hopefully we can back that up and finish the series off now," added Root after his first century at this level since March.

Prior to Saturday, Root had faced just three deliveries from India's Kuldeep Yadav, whose left-arm wrist-spin had been proving something of a mystery for England's batsmen.

They certainly appeared to have little idea of how to play him while Kuldeep was enjoying a stunning return of 6-25 at Trent Bridge.

But Root looked far more assured at Lord's, even if Kuldeep still took 3-68.

Root was dropped recently from England's Twenty20 team and there have been suggestions that his brand of patient accumulation is no longer suited to the modern one-day game.

But when it comes to rebuilding an innings, there appears little wrong with Root's approach.

"Ultimately, you've just got to trust your game and trust your technique; I felt I was picking him (Kuldeep) OK," he said.

"I feel I've got a solid approach against spin bowling.

"On a turning surface it's important to make sure you feel you're playing it in the right manner and working things out.

"Thankfully I managed to follow through here. I thought we were quite smart in getting to what we thought was a good total; we didn't go too hard too early."

Victory for India on Tuesday will see them record a 10th consecutive win in bilateral series consisting of at least three matches, while England are currently riding a streak of six such series wins.