Ashes 2021: Joe Root’s captaincy on the line- Embarassing defeat in India, at home against New Zealand, trailing Test series against India at home and down 0-2 in Ashes, England skipper Joe Root is in under fire. He might be World’s No 1 Test batsman but he hasn’t been able to stop the slide. Former greats have questioned Root’s decision making and a 4-0 loss in Ashes is likely to see the axe fall on his captaincy. Follow Ashes 2021 live updates on InsideSport.IN.
Before England suffered their second straight defeat in the Ashes by a humiliating 275 runs, Australian great Ian Chappell questioned Joe Root’s leadership. He questioned his decision-making, team selection and bowling plans, including the decision to bat first at the bowling paradise conditions at Gabba after winning the toss and not picking Jack Leach. Even Root admits he could lose his captaincy.
Ashes 2021: World No 1 Test batsman Joe Root’s captaincy on the line as England trail Australia 0-2 ahead of Boxing Day Test
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“Absolutely it is (on the line), you look at how hard it has been for English captains and English teams over the years. It’s been something that doesn’t happen very often. Of course it will define my captaincy, I’m not naive enough to think that it won’t. But what a great opportunity. I can’t wait for the series to get going,” Sydney Morning Herald quoted Root as saying.
The reason is pretty obvious. Under Joe Root’s captaincy, England lost to India away, lost to NZ at home, trailing 1-2 to India at home and in the Ashes, they have been battered. Some questionable decisions include dropping Jack Leach and not sorting out opening combinations.
Former Australia great Ian Chappell too questioned Root’s leadership, calling him a poor captain.
“What is the opposite definition of excellent leadership? There’s a good chance it can be summed up by Joe Root’s captaincy. Root is an excellent batter but a poor captain. it would not be unfair to describe him as an ordinary and unlucky captain,” Chappell told ESPNcricinfo.
Ashes 2021: World No 1 Test batsman Joe Root’s captaincy on the line as England trail Australia 0-2 ahead of Boxing Day Test
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Under Root’s captaincy, England now have lost 11 out of last 12 matches apart from a draw. In addition, England’s position on the ICC World Test Championship points table offers a sad story with the team reeling at seventh place after ICC’s penalty for slow over-rate.
Is Joe Root fighting for his job as England captain?
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Ashes will define my captaincy, says Root
Ahead of the Ashes, England captain Joe Root had said that the Test series will define his captaincy. Unfortunately, it’s gone south.
Ashes 2021 LIVE: World No 1 Test batsman Joe Root’s captaincy on the line as England trail Australia 0-2 ahead of Boxing Day Test
- Joe Root & Co have lost 8 matches out of 14 games in 2021. The win percentage has slipped 28 per cent.
- England’s decision to bat first under overcast conditions in Gabba backfired. The visitors got bowled out for 147 while Australia took the advantage and put England under pressure.
- Root went ahead with a pace attack in Adelaide after spinner Jack Leach got hammered in the opening Test. Dom Bess was completely ignored while Australia stuck with Nathan Lyon.
- The England captain had earlier included allrounder Moeen Ali during the India Tour of England which failed to deliver any dividend.
- Pundits have begun questioning his captaincy after Australia slammed 400+ runs in 1st innings of both the Brisbane & Gabba Test. England ended up trailing the series 0-2 ahead of the Boxing Day Test at MCG.
- The Year 2021 saw England losing to India twice (home & Away), New Zealand (home) and Ashes (5-0 predicted)
- Interestingly, the ODI and T20I setup are managed and coached by the same staff and Eoin Morgan has produced different outcomes. At the same time, it’s true that some of the problems are out of his control.
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England in 2021 under Joe Root
Tests- 14, Won-4, Lost-8, Drawn-2
Series 1: Won 2-0 against minnows Sri Lanka in their backyard
Series 2: Lost 1-3 to India in their backyard
Series 3: Lost 0-1 to New Zealand at home
Series 4: Trail 1-2 to India at home (decider in 2022)
Series 5 ongoing: Trail Australia 0-2 in 5-match series
| Team 1 | Team 2 | Winner | Margin | Ground |
| Sri Lanka | England | England | 7 wickets | Galle |
| Sri Lanka | England | England | 6 wickets | Galle |
| India | England | England | 227 runs | Chennai |
| India | England | India | 317 runs | Chennai |
| India | England | India | 10 wickets | Ahmedabad |
| India | England | India | inns & 25 runs | Ahmedabad |
| England | New Zealand | drawn | N/A | Lord’s |
| England | New Zealand | New Zealand | 8 wickets | Birmingham |
| England | India | drawn | N/A | Nottingham |
| England | India | India | 151 runs | Lord’s |
| England | India | England | inns & 76 runs | Leeds |
| England | India | India | 157 runs | The Oval |
| Australia | England | Australia | 9 wickets | Brisbane |
| Australia | England | Australia | 275 runs | Adelaide |
Joe Root goes past Sachin Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar to join elite Test club
Why England will have to wait for full Ashes series before taking a big decision?
Joe Root is England’s most successful Test captain with 27 wins, most by any other skipper. As a result, the ECB is expected to keep a close watch on the remaining matches before taking any big decision.
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England captaincy records |
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| Player | Span | Mat | Won | Lost | Tied | Draw | W/L | %W | %L |
| AN Cook | 2010-2016 | 59 | 24 | 22 | 0 | 13 | 1.09 | 40.67 | 37.28 |
| JE Root | 2017-2021 | 58* | 27 | 22 | 0 | 8 | 1.22 | 46.55 | 37.93 |
| MA Atherton | 1993-2001 | 54 | 13 | 21 | 0 | 20 | 0.61 | 24.07 | 38.88 |
| MP Vaughan | 2003-2008 | 51 | 26 | 11 | 0 | 14 | 2.36 | 50.98 | 21.56 |
| AJ Strauss | 2006-2012 | 50 | 24 | 11 | 0 | 15 | 2.18 | 48 | 22 |
| N Hussain | 1999-2003 | 45 | 17 | 15 | 0 | 13 | 1.13 | 37.77 | 33.3 |
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