A trio of former England captains have led calls for Joe Root to resign or be sacked from the top job, after England’s Test fortunes hit a new low with a 10-wicket loss to the West Indies.
England collapsed to be bowled out for 120 in the third Test of the series in Grenada, with Windies captain Kraigg Brathwaite completing a simple chase of 28 by hitting the winning runs.
The 1-0 series defeat continues England’s horror record in the Caribbean, having won just one series there in 54 years.
The defeat means Root has secured just one victory from his last 17 Test in charge, and in the eyes of Nasser Hussain, Michael Atherton and Michael Vaughan, should end his 64-Test, five-year tenure.
Writing in The Times, Atherton called for the England Cricket Board to ‘end the delusion’ and replace the captain, brutally describing Root’s position as ‘untenable’.
“As was obvious to anyone who was in Australia, and should have been obvious to anyone who wasn’t, Root has reached the end of the road as captain,” Atherton wrote.
“A change will not cure all ills — this is a poor team and England are paying the price for the neglect of the first-class game — but there simply comes a time when a captain has nothing new to say, no new methods of motivating his players and a different voice or different style is required.
“He had reached that point at the end of the Ashes and nothing has changed.”
Atherton also slammed the much-criticised decision to omit champion fast bowlers James Anderson and Stuart Broad for the Ashes tour, saying the call was designed to protect Root’s standing as captain – and failed miserably.
“The decision not to select Broad and Anderson was part of the move to insulate Root’s captaincy, but was fundamentally flawed, meaning that a weaker team than the one for Australia was selected,” Atherton wrote.
Hussain also slammed the move to axe the two bowlers, England’s two most prolific ever with records of 640 and 537 Test wickets respectively.
According to him, the call did nothing but give the West Indies extra motivation to take down their oldest enemy.
“I never understood the decision to leave out Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad. Why would you drop your two greatest bowlers when you are at your lowest ebb?” Hussain wrote in The Daily Mail.
“England have only won once in the Caribbean in the last 54 years but seemed to be saying they did not rate West Indies. It is a mistake they have made in the past, too, and there is nothing West Indies like more than to use that sort of thing as motivation.
“The decision was clearly disrespectful to West Indies and I never believe you should use Test matches just to experiment and try new people for the sake of it, especially when you’re leaving people of the quality of Broad and Anderson at home.”
Hussain was similarly critical of the amiable attitude from England during the series, saying Root’s demeanour simply wasn’t cut out to lead a struggling team.
“Root is a world-class batsman and a very likeable lad but I feel he has never had that instinctive feel for the game as captain,” he wrote.
“Clearly under Joe and [interim coach] Paul Collingwood in the West Indies England tried to create this atmosphere where they were all mates and all in it together. They want to be a likeable team but you need more than that to win Tests.
“The whole point of captaincy, and the aspect of the role I enjoyed the most, was trying to get the most out of people who did things differently. Those who were a little difficult.”
England captain Joe Root shakes hands with Jason Holder of the West Indies. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
Those sentiments were echoed by 2005 Ashes-winning England captain Michael Vaughan, a close friend of Root’s, who wrote in The Telegraph that his soft approach on teammates has led to the team becoming ‘weak and lacking resilience’.
“I am sure he is a nice captain to play for because he is a nice guy but when an England side consistently collapses and flaps under pressure, that is on you as a leader,” Vaughan wrote.
“You should be priding yourself as a captain on how well the team respond in tough situations. That is where captaincy credentials shine through.
“This England side for too long under Joe have been allowed to get away with being weak and lacking resilience. There is a soft centre to this England Test match team. That is something the new coach and director of cricket will have to address first.
“When you have one win in 18 there are only so many times you can trot out excuses about bubbles and the county system. Ultimately, are this team and group of players playing to their potential? Nowhere near.”
A key conundrum for the ECB in replacing Root is the lack of other viable options for the role. With Broad and Anderson now appearing out of favour, the list of established Test-calibre talent in the England team is as low as it has been in many a year. Root’s vice-captain and the most likely alternative, Ben Stokes, has a long rap sheet of off-field indiscretions and would be a bold choice.
However, Hussain believes the board must give Stokes a chance anyway, with the all-rounder appearing back to his best with the ball against the Windies.
“If Joe does not decide to step down himself the decision should be taken out of his hands,” Hussain wrote.
“Then the new coach should sit down with Ben Stokes and ask him where he is off the field mentally and where he is with his game.
“Ben seems to be playing with passion and fire again and if the coach likes what he hears from him then Stokes should get the job.”
England’s next red-ball assignment is a three-Test series against reigning World Test Champions New Zealand on home soil in June.
JamesH
Roar Guru
In his 5 away series since the start of 2019 (WI, SA, SL, IN, AU), Anderson has averaged 19 with the ball. Statistically he's in career best form overseas. I think the wickets in the Caribbean would have suited him.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Had Broad played probably a different story. Anderson now ismuch more effectice at home than away.
Paul D
Roar Guru
I thought it was a disgrace that they dropped Broad and Anderson for basically demanding too high standards from the team - glad the side they did pick got thumped (gladder than usual, anyway). Those two carried England for over a decade and basically got thrown out with the garbage. No wonder KP used to rip Strauss every chance he got, worst leader of Team England since Neville Chamberlain.
Tony
Roar Guru
I had a bout of Lachrymosity but ok now thanks to anti biotics
JamesH
Roar Guru
A few left-field options are being touted in the English media. Although the English media says a lot of questionable stuff so it's hard to know what to take seriously. https://wisden.com/series-stories/west-indies-v-england/six-out-there-options-being-genuinely-touted-as-englands-next-test-captain The thing that I find incredible is that they already want to axe Foakes. Granted, he didn't have a great series, but surely the guy deserves a chance to make the spot his own? If they don't want to persist with Root then I think they just give it to Broad for 12-24 months and allow themselves time to identify a successor.
JamesH
Roar Guru
Exactly. With a raw, brittle batting lineup England were bound to collapse in at least one test. The real issue is that they were on top for two matches and couldn't close them out. Why? Because they left their two best bowlers at home! Woakes (surprise surprise) and Overton were ineffective, Wood and Stokes got injured (again, surprise surprise) and the attack was carried by a debutant and a servicable offie. If Anderson and Broad play, they probably win at least one of the first two tests, walking away with a drawn series - at worst - and only one match where their batting lineup completely failed. Not to mention a good find in Mahmood. Root will never inspire anyone with his leadership but he's the least of their problems.
Simon
Guest
Root has no tactical nous, no ability to actually have the balls to tell his team they’re playing crap. Yes he’s an excellent batsman and a nice guy.. however, put an Ian Chappell, Steve Waugh character in charge of this team?? The fight that British people used to have will come back. Oh and back the leg spinner Parkinson. He would have done well. If given the time!!! Dropping Anderson & Broad?? Seriously..??
JW
Guest
I mean, they could change to Stokes for change's sake (and maybe he'll be a better captain, who knows unless you try him), but he isn't going to turn them into a top test playing nation. If this is the best top 6 they can come up with then the cattle is just not there right now. Root and Stokes can't bat for the rest of them (and even then, Stokes has obvious match winning abilities but only averages mid-30s). They just have to do what Just Nuisance said above, keep some experience and give their best young players an extended run at it and hope they become good test players...and have some realistic expectations. On the bowling side, their pace bowling should be good when everyone is fit (Archer, Wood, Stokes with Robinson or Woakes would be a solid pace attack).
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I say "Keep him". I've always thought of him as the Basil Fawlty of cricket.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Exactly Tempo . I enjoy Nasser Hussein and love his laid back approach and I might add knowledge of the game but he has things about face here . You cannot tear Root apart without taking into account Englands dismal record in the Caribbean. One series win in 54 years . It’s almost as if he is saying if we had Broad and Anderson we would have won . Yet between them career wise they have bowled almost 700 overs in the Caribbean , taken 72 wickets at a combined avg of about 28 . That’s on seam friendly wickets . And that was mostly in their prime . The current Windies team is a more than useful one and a handful at home . It’s not good enough not giving them their just dues . England just don’t currently have player quality in depth. They are going to have to take the approach of South Africa . Keep some experience, Identify your best young domestic players and get them in . Accept you are going to lose a few matches . Of course you are going to .
Simoc
Guest
Well I've never thought much of Roots captaincy. But Englands problem is that realistically the only alternative is Stokes. I think Stokes would be much better, as he understands bowlers and what they want, need. In his short stint recently he was apparently very impressive. The English selectors are poor as well. Hopefully they will stick with Foakes given that he seems to be their best wicketkeeper and has been for some time. And they need to stick with a spinner for more than 5minutes. Spinners improve with experience at the top level but getting dropped doesn't help the confidence of any player.
Tempo
Roar Rookie
Absolutely. West Indies are an improving test team, especially in home conditions. They drew series v Pakistan and Sri Lanka last year and beat Bangladesh in Bangladesh (something Australia didn't manage last time we were there), and won a test match in England in 2020 (losing the series 2-1), and won a home series v England in 2019. When (if?) Australia next tours there, we'll need to play well to beat them. Yes, England are not a great test team at the moment but I'm entirely unsurprised that they lost in a country where they've won once in the past 54 years (with far better sides failing to win in 2009 and 2015).
Joshua Makepeace
Roar Rookie
Yes, Root hasn't been brilliant but when you look at the rest of the team you can't find a leader. Appointing Stokes would not be a sensible decision so I say stick with Root for now, he's the best bet and he hasn't exactly got the strongest team to work with.
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
Disdain? Lachrymosity?
DCNZ
Guest
well you could argue that root has fielded his chances as england captain, rather badly. i thought his captaincy vs aus in the last ashes was way too timid and conservative. andrew strauss, MD of English cricket has some big decisions ahead. Home series vs NZ starts June 2, three tests. why not make bairstow interim captain and bat him at six. 8 test tons, ave 34, they could do worse. (hoping Kane is fit by then). Go the Bluck Cups.
DTM
Roar Rookie
He's scored almost 10,000 test runs with an average around 50. He's a part time spinner who has taken a few handy wickets. He's not a great captain but he is the only real option they have. Look at their team - Lees, Crawley, Lawrence, Foakes, Woakes, Overton, Leach and Mahmood would not get a game for many test playing nations. There are only 3 genuine test cricketers in their side - Root, Stokes and maybe Bairstow. This is not Joe Root's fault (can't believe I'm sticking up for a Pom!).
Brian
Guest
So they want to blame the one great player they have because he can't play for the other 10 players. They need to change county cricket and they need to back Root because there is no one else.
JW
Guest
The over the top praise from the media after the first and second tests quickly goes to the other end of the spectrum. It’s comical. Blaming joe root and saying the team aren’t playing to their potential when the entire top 7 (other than joe root himself, and Johnny bairstow with a FC average of 42) have FC averages in the mid 30s, is bizarre. They just don’t have any batsmen unfortunately. Stokes isn’t going to fare much better, and he’s likely to be in and out of the side. Do they have a tim Paine like county cricketer they could pick just for his leadership?
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Well and good to condemn Root but look at the team. Openers are poor. Of the top 6 only Root and to a lesser extent Strokes are worth their place in any test team. The wicketkeeper position appears to be a revolving door one. The bowlers have no teeth. This all comes down to the England selectors and how cricket is run over there. Though he will never considered as any more than an average captain, all this vitriol should be aimed at the ECB not Root.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
is it remotely possible that The West Indian team just played better cricket ?