Ashes 2021: Woakes backs Root to remain England Test captain

Ashes 2021: Joe Root gets Woakes’ backing – Embarassing loss in India, series loss at home to New Zealand and trailing 1-2 to India at home, Joe Root-led India are on the backfoot. Their Ashes humiliation has further dampened their spirits and skipper Root is under fire despite smashing 1,708 runs in 2021 alone. However, England all-rounder Chris Woakes has backed Root to continue as the captain. Follow AUS vs ENG Live Updates on InsideSport.IN.

Asked if the England team would support Root’s continuation as skipper, Woakes told British media on Wednesday, “Absolutely.”

Ashes 2021: Chris Woakes backs Joe Root to remain England Test captain despite Ashes disaster

Also Read: England Batsmen in 2021: SHAME SHAME England test team, EXTRAS are the 3rd highest scorer for the POMS in 2021, check details

“It’s clear that the captaincy isn’t having an effect on his batting, which a lot of the time with captains can be the case. The fact that he’s scoring the runs he is, is great for the team. It would be great if we could help him out with that and build some partnerships with him, and score a few more runs around him,” Chris Woakes said.

England have lost 9 of the 15 Tests they have played in 2021, winning only four of them besides two draws. In Ashes, an under-prepared England lost the three matches so far, surrendering the series to Australia. In the third Test, England suffered an innings and 14-run loss to Australia on Tuesday.

Ashes 2021: Chris Woakes backs Joe Root to remain England Test captain despite Ashes disaster

Joe Root, who was reluctant to discuss the long-term future of his captaincy after the Ashes defeat in the third Test, has not won any of his three Ashes series in charge.

Also read: Ashes 2021 LIVE: Extremely angry & agitated Geoffery Boycott to Joe Root, ‘give up on the captaincy’

However, it is his batting form that has kept him afloat. He has scored a record 1,708 runs in 2021, the highest amongst all in the calendar year including six hundred and four half-centuries. The next England batsman is Rory Burns who has scored just 530 runs and the next has come from extras (410).

“Joe is a great cricketer, he’s got a great cricket brain. I think his record as England captain is pretty good, as far as I’m aware. I definitely feel like Joe will continue,” Chris Woakes said.

Ashes 2021: Chris Woakes backs Joe Root to remain England Test captain despite Ashes disaster

Asked if coach Chris Silverwood also has the same support, Woakes added: “Who am I to talk about people’s futures other than my own, to be brutally honest? We have two more games and we want to show a lot of character, a lot of fight. The group of players, the management and the staff we have out here have the backing of the players to hopefully put things right, over the next two games in particular.”

British media reported that the England board’s chief executive Tom Harrison met Root in Melbourne on Wednesday to discuss the reasons behind the failing tour but the board is said to be supportive of him staying on as captain.

Ashes 2021: Chris Woakes backs Joe Root to remain England Test captain despite Ashes disaster

England in 2021:

No	Result	Margin	Toss	Bat	Opposition	Ground
1	won	7 wickets	lost	2nd	v Sri Lanka	Galle
2	won	6 wickets	lost	2nd	v Sri Lanka	Galle
3	won	227 runs	won	1st	v India	Chennai
4	lost	317 runs	lost	2nd	v India	Chennai
5	lost	10 wickets	won	1st	v India	Ahmedabad
6	lost	inns & 25 runs	won	1st	v India	Ahmedabad
7	draw	–	lost	2nd	v New Zealand	Lord’s
8	lost	8 wickets	won	1st	v New Zealand	Birmingham
9	draw	–	won	1st	v India	Nottingham
10	lost	151 runs	won	2nd	v India	Lord’s
11	won	inns & 76 runs	lost	2nd	v India	Leeds
12	lost	157 runs	won	2nd	v India	The Oval
13	lost	9 wickets	won	1st	v Australia	Brisbane
14	lost	275 runs	lost	2nd	v Australia	Adelaide
15	lost	inns & 14 runs	lost	1st	v Australia	Melbourne