Ashes 2021-22: The mind games ahead of Ashes 2020-21 has begun and former Australia captain Ian Chappell has taken straight shots at England skipper Joe Root, saying that the 30-year-old lacks vision which is a prerequisite to excel down under. Follow Ashes 2021-22 on InsideSport.IN.
Ashes 2021-22: Joe Root’s captaincy not good, should take advice from Ben Stokes – Ian Chappell
The first match of the 72nd edition of Ashes is set to kick start from December 8 in Brisbane and Australia have already announced their playing XI led by Pat Cummins – country’s 47th Test captain.
Chappell has stated that the best option Root has is to get all-rounder Ben Stokes in the the mix of things before taking calls in the middle.
“I wouldn’t worry too much about his captaincy, I don’t think that’s very good. He’s got an imagination problem that is important in Australia,” Chappell said while speaking on Wide World of Sports’ Outside The Rope
“His best chance with captaincy is if he takes quite a bit of advice from (Ben) Stokes, and Stokes establishes himself as a very aggressive player,” he added.
Notably, Joe Root has captained England in 56 Tests and has marshalled his troop to victory on 27 occasions. Only Alastair Cook (59) has captained the Three Lions more in the format.
Further, Ian Chappell suggested that Joe Root should come in to bat at No. 3. He pointed at Root’s terrific form, saying that the time was just perfect for him to occupy the spot and leave nothing to luck.
“The question I would ask Joe is why don’t you bat at three?” he said.
“I’ve always believed that you are better off coming in at one for not very many than two for not very many, and no-one has really proved that they can bat at three.
“Joe has got all the credentials to bat at three, there’s never going to be a better time for him to bat at No.3 because he’s in terrific form, but he just won’t seem to bat at No.3.
“He might get lucky in Australia, and No.3 it could be (Dawid) Malan, and Malan I think’s a reasonably decent player. If Malan has a good series at three and keeps Joe away from the bowling for a while then it’s got a chance at working.
“But, I wouldn’t be trusting to luck, I’d be saying if I was Joe, ‘I’m batting at three'”.
Joe Root is the only batsman to score more than 1,000 run in this calendar year. The right-hander, current ranked No. 1 in the world, has scored 1,455 runs at an average of 66.13 in 12 matches. The Yorkshire star has smashed six hundreds including three doubles. Only once in 2021, Root has failed to hit hundred after crossing the 50-run mark.
Ashes 2021-22: Joe Root’s captaincy not good, should take advice from Ben Stokes – Ian Chappell
