Morris praises Root’s impact as Paarl Royals confirm SA20 return

Chris Morris has praised Joe Root’s influence at Paarl Royals after the England batter was selected as one of the franchise’s pre-signings for SA20 Season 5. Root previously represented the team in Season 3 and is now set to return to the squad.

Morris, who played for the Royals during that earlier campaign, said Root’s value extended beyond his performances. He described the 35-year-old as one of England’s greatest-ever batters, but said Root did not carry that status into the changeroom.

According to Morris, Root made himself approachable to teammates and younger players. He fitted into the group without acting superior, which allowed others to interact with him as they would with any other member of the squad.

The former Royals player said feedback from his old teammates had been consistently positive. Root was seen as someone prepared to listen and offer advice when it was needed, adding to the benefit of having an experienced international player within the group.

Morris also highlighted Root’s character away from his cricketing ability. In his view, the batter’s presence was valuable because he combined elite skills with the qualities of a supportive and grounded teammate.

Root’s return comes after he was re-appointed as England captain for a second stint. Morris also identified Ben Stokes as a player who could strengthen the SA20 if he joined the competition, noting that Stokes had not appeared in any of its first four seasons and retired from international cricket in June.