Australian great Ricky Ponting has called for under-pressure England captain Joe Root to stand down for the role, believing the team’s horror Ashes tour has marked his cards in the top job.
Root has held the reins since Alastair Cook resigned in February 2017. Not England captain has had more than his 60 Tests at the helm, while his 27 victories are also the national record.
However, a second Ashes drubbing in Australia, following England’s 4-0 loss in 2017-18, has prompted Ponting to urge Root to finish his career as a batter only, with Ben Stokes to take the captaincy.
“I think it is time,” Ponting told Seven Cricket during a commentary stint.
“Four or five years in the job, having been there and done it myself, and with what they’ve done the last couple of years, I think it’s time for him to move on and give with someone else.
“That has to be Ben Stokes.”
Ponting himself led Australia in 77 Tests between 2004 and 2010, with his 48 wins behind only long-serving South Africa captain Graeme Smith (53).
(Photo by Darrian Traynor – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)
However, he too paid the price for Ashes failure, having skippered the 2005 and 2009 losing teams in England, before the humbling 2010-11 series defeat was the final straw.
Root’s captaincy has come under fire throughout the series, with several Australian greats, including another former captain in Ian Chappell, blasting his leadership.
Chappell described Root as ‘an excellent batter but a poor captain’ following England’s defeat in the second Test in Adelaide; just days earlier, Ponting had savaged Root for being unable to manage veteran bowlers James Anderson and Stuart Broad.
Root admitted to being unable to convince the pair to bowl a fuller length in that Test, a revelation that Ponting ‘nearly fell off my seat’ to hear.
“Whose job is it then to make them change? Why are you captain then?” he said.
“If you can’t influence your bowlers on what length to bowl, what are you doing on the field?
“Joe Root can come back and say whatever he likes but if you’re captain, you’ve got to be able to sense when your bowlers aren’t bowling where you want them to.”
At only 31, Root is barely five months older than Stokes, but England’s packed recent schedule means he has played 113 Tests already.
Sedz
Guest
Australia missed few points in WTC by a whisker. First test between India & NZ ended in the similar fashion. So who is gonna qualify for WTC final? Reckon Aus, Ind, Pak & NZ have fair chance to qualify. But Aus have tough tours of India, Pakistan along with home series vs SA and WI. Aussies wouldn't mind home games. India has home series against Australia and SL. They have one game remaining against SA and England (both away) followed by away series vs Bangladesh. Seems to me Pakistan has the easiest of options. They play Aus, England and NZ at home. Away in SL, WI and Bangladesh.
U
Roar Rookie
I’d want Stokes as captain if he’s fit
Paul
Roar Guru
I reckon the mighty Dragons would have more chance of winning this year's NRL premiership than the Poms would of finding XI Test quality players. Right now, they're struggling to find XI fit blokes to play in the next Test.
Mr Right
Roar Rookie
Could not have written it better myself!!!
Paul
Roar Guru
I think Root would happily give up the Test captaincy but if Stokes is their next best option, the Poms have real problems. Over the past 18 months, other than the mental health issues, he's also had other fitness problems. I'd also be a tad concerned about how he manages his anger, given effects over the past 5 or 6 years. I also think his best years as a player might be behind him, certainly as a bowler. If he's going to play & captain, can he do that as a number 5 bat? I'm happy this is a Pommie problem and not an Aussie one.
CW Moss
Roar Rookie
When Jimmy wants to go he can simply send a photo to the selectors. :happy:
Mr Right
Roar Rookie
I recall one of Ponting's ex-teammates stating that Mitchell Starc should be dropped from the test team & I also read somewhere Usman Khawaja should shouldn't be selected for the SCG test. The experts don’t always get it right that is for sure & certain. The captaincy is definitely not affecting his batting. He came to Australia as the number 1 test batsman in the world. No one would be questioning his captaincy if they were winning. For that to happen, a lot more of team mates need to start scoring some runs. His captaincy has nothing to do with their non-performance. Our bowlers have been great & he also can not do too much about that either.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
May well have been.
Tony
Roar Guru
Exactly
Dan
Roar Rookie
Not so simple, they actually don’t have those 11 players you’re referring to :laughing:
Tony
Roar Guru
What England need to do is pick 11 players who can play test cricket, then make one of them captain. Simple.
Tony
Roar Guru
Or was it 4 catches?
Mark Vandermeer
Guest
He was involved in the highest partnership of the match - 31 opening with D.C. Boon who made 8!
bigbaz
Roar Guru
Didn’t think there was one .
Nedshorse
Roar Rookie
Uzzy, Uzzy Uzzy, oih oih oih!!!!!
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Pyrite :laughing:
Redcap
Roar Guru
This afternoon was odd, but he's done well. Tough year ahead for him in Asia. That'll be a big test.
Phil
Roar Rookie
"can't be worse than a bad Root." Gold, 18 carat gold.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
If Pope is good enough to bat, keep and lead the Catholics of the world, surely he can skipper England. St Peter's Square just needs a drop-in pitch and a bit of Buffalo and it'll be good to go.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Another choice could be Anderson the old fella could do a Paine & resurrect the teams failures he’s 38 but reckons he could play into his 40’s. Not sure of his tactical nous but can’t be worse than a bad Root