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
“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 |
Ashes 2021: Chris Woakes backs Joe Root to remain England Test captain despite Ashes disaster
For more updates on cricket and other sports, follow InsideSport.IN
Editor's Pick
Cricket
IND vs AUS 1st Test: Triple strike from Bumrah & co, Virat Kohli's redemption on India's radar on Day 2
Top Stories
