JOE ROOT failed to live up to his own lofty expectations in the recent Test series against Sri Lanka – but England team-mate Steven Finn insists any talk of a slump for the Yorkshireman is "silly".

Such is Root's talent with the bat – his Test average stands at 52.92 – any blip in form is easy to notice in his game.

That is perhaps what occurred against Sri Lanka as, aside from 80 in the second game at Chester-le-Street, the 25-year-old Yorkshire star failed with a duck at Leeds and knocks of three and four at Lord's, even though England won the series 2-0.

Yet in between he scored a superb 92 not out as Yorkshire lost to Roses rivals Lancashire in their T20 Blast clash – and fast bowler Finn believes Root will be back among the international runs in no time.

"Anyone suggesting he is in any kind of a slump is pretty silly," said Finn.

"He got an important 80 for us in Durham, a second or third-baller at Headingley when the wicket was a bit spicy and one that pea-rolled on him at Lord's.

"So you can't read too much into that. He's clearly a world-class player, an excellent team man and pretty much the life and soul of the squad.

"I really disagree with anyone who'd say he is heading into a slump. He is hitting the ball really well still but he just didn't get the runs in four innings that we are used to seeing him get."

Root has been named, along with Finn, in England's 14-man squad for the Royal London one-day series against Sri Lanka, which starts at Trent Bridge on Tuesday.

Regardless of the Test series win, 27-year-old Finn expects a stern challenge from the Sri Lankans in the shorter version of the game.

"Obviously we're switching between formats, and the squad changes considerably for the next phase of the summer, but we can take a lot of confidence from the way we played against Sri Lanka," he said.

"But Sri Lanka also have a lot of different players coming in, so they will feel refreshed and invigorated, and I thought they played a lot better towards the back end of the Test series.

"They will take heart from that and, of course, we can never take them lightly. Classically, apart from the 2013-14 Ashes, the side that loses the Tests comes back a lot stronger in the one-dayers.

"No-one wants to leave a tour having not won a game, so they'll be at us. They are excellent at one-day cricket and always go far at world tournaments."

* Steven Finn was speaking at a Sri Lankan-inspired cooking event hosted by Royal London, sponsors of one-day cricket.