ANDREW Gale has admitted that Joe Root’s rapid rise to the top of the world game has taken him by surprise.

Gale always expected his Yorkshire team-mate, who he describes as “phenomenal”, to star in Test cricket for England, but not necessarily in the limited overs arena.

“In white ball cricket, when he first came into the Yorkshire team he couldn’t hit the ball off the square,” he recalled.

Root currently sits behind Australia’s Steve Smith at number two in the ICC’s Test batting rankings, having been number one inside the last six months.

He also sits 11th in the T20 rankings and tenth in the ODI rankings.

Root has scored 195 runs in the ongoing World T20, and is England’s leading run-scorer.

Ahead of tomorrow’s final against the West Indies in Kolkata, Gale was asked if, when he first came across the 25-year-old, he thought he could become as good a player as he is now.

“No I didn’t, not as quickly as he has done, particularly in the white ball stuff,” said the Yorkshire captain.

“I saw a player who, in red ball cricket I thought ‘yeah, this guy’s got the credentials to be a Test cricketer and a really good one’. I didn’t think he’d be a number one in the world Test cricketer, but he’s adapted brilliantly.

“In the white ball stuff, he was one of those who if he’s batting four, five or six you’d say ‘Brez, you go in before him, Richie Pyrah, you go because, Joe, you can’t hit the ball off the square.

“Then one pre-season, I remember he had Mark Footitt bowling at him in Barbados and he got down on one knee and ramped him for six first ball. I thought ‘where’s that came from?’

“He’d gone away and worked out for himself what he needed to do to be better in the short format.

“That’s what he’s done all his career, learn so quickly and find out what works for him. He watches other players in the world and works on his game to emulate that.

“It has been surprising how well he’s done so quickly, but what a phenomenal player.”

Root’s haul of World T20 runs is bettered only by India’s Virat Kohli, who has scored 273 runs from five matches (Tamim Iqbal and Mohammad Shahzad have also scored more, but they started in the qualification round).

Kohli is regarded by many as the best batsman in the world.

“I would say Rooty is better in all conditions than Kohli,” said Gale.

“I’d say Kohli is probably a better white ball cricketer, more destructive at this moment in time. But in Test match cricket, I’d say you’d want Rooty batting for your life rather than Kohli.

“He’s definitely right up there with AB de Villiers, Kane Williamson, Steve Smith.

“I guess the argument will go on for years as it has done with many different players.”

Root will return to County Championship action with Yorkshire before England’s first summer Test against Sri Lanka on May 19, but he is expected to be rested from the opening match against Hampshire on April 17.