Joe Root Steps Down – Ben Stokes next England Test captain? Joe Root has stepped down as the England Test captain. While Root has been on a high as a player, under his captaincy, England has hit rock bottom including an Ashes thrashing of 4-0. Ben Stokes is the next in line to take over. Follow all the Live Updates on InsideSport.IN.
Ben Stokes Next England Test Captain? Root’s old vice-captain is in line to take over.
By resigning, Root has made it easier for the loyal Stokes to succeed him, rather than replace a friend who had been sacked.
“Ben Stokes has the respect. He has a class and aura to lead England out of the doldrums – and if not him, I’d have Stuart Broad to replace Joe Root”, stated Naseer Hussain.
Joe Root Steps Down: It’s official! Joe Root quits Test captaincy under pressure as Test REBOOT fails miserably, Ben Stokes set to take over
BREAKING: Joe Root steps down as England Test captain 🏏 pic.twitter.com/y9AnFBT1xI
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) April 15, 2022
Despite being England’s most successful Test captain, Root was under immense pressure after the humiliating loss against Australia in the Ashes.
“After returning from the Caribbean tour and having time to reflect, I have decided to step down as England’s men’s Test captain. It has been the most challenging decision I have had to make in my career but having discussed this with my family and those closest to me, I know the timing is right,” Joe Root said in a statement.
The Ashes debacle prompted many former England captains including Michael Atherton to demand his resignation.
“I am immensely proud to have captained my country and will look back on the past five years with enormous pride. It has been an honour to have done the job and to have been a custodian of what is the pinnacle of English cricket,” he added.
Thank You, @root66 ❤️
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) April 15, 2022
Joe Root Steps Down: It’s official! Joe Root quits Test captaincy under pressure as Test REBOOT fails miserably, Ben Stokes to take over
Joe Root Steps Down: Why Root had to step down?
- Root was England’s most successful Test captain with 42.18% winning record.
- But England’s struggle in India in a 1-4 series loss sparked debate.
- That was followed by loss to New Zealand at home and trailing India by 1-2.
- England were humiliated in the Ashes 0-4.
- Following the West Indies loss, England called for a Test reboot with new coach and axing established Test players like James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Jos Buttler amongst others.
- But the Test REBOOT failed miserably as England lost to West Indies 0-1, marking the final nail in the coffin.
Joe Root Steps Down: It’s official! Joe Root quits Test captaincy under pressure as Test REBOOT fails miserably, Ben Stokes to take over
Root was appointed as the Test captain in 2017. He took over the leadership from Sir Alastair Cook and made an impressive start to his captaincy tenure. Root beat South Africa in the home Test series and announced himself as the leader of the team. The right-hand batter also won a memorable five-match Test series against India 4-1.
In 2018 Root also became the first-ever Test captain to win a series in Sri Lanka since 2001. He also won a Test series in South Africa.
Joe Root Steps Down: It’s official! Joe Root quits Test captaincy under pressure as Test REBOOT fails miserably, Ben Stokes to take over
Ben Stokes likely to take over England Test captain
- Over the past year though England team struggled to win Test matches and that took a toll on Root as the leader.
- The 31-year-old was exceptional as the batter, but could not inspire the team to win in the Ashes series Down Under and against West Indies away.
- Ben Stokes is likely to be the successor of Root. Talks were circulating among cricket experts that Stokes can inspire the team to greater heights
- The southpaw is an inspirational figure in the England dressing room and is commands respect
- He was also deputy to Joe Root for the longest time
Joe Root Steps Down: It’s official! Joe Root quits Test captaincy under pressure as Test REBOOT fails miserably, Ben Stokes to take over
