England’s interim head coach Paul Collingwood says he’s amazed questions are being asked about Joe Root’s captaincy of the Test side.
England have won just one of their last 17 Tests and the pressure has been mounting on Root following a 4-0 Ashes series defeat by Australia and a 1-0 loss in the West Indies.
The results prompted former captains Michael Atherton, Michael Vaughan and Nasser Hussain to suggest it should be the end of the road for Root, who has signalled his desire to continue in the role.
“Sometimes it amazes me that he gets questioned because of how it feels within the dressing room,” Collingwood, who was in charge for the West Indies tour after Chris Silverwood stepped down, told British media.
“It’s the first time I’ve experienced him as a head coach, and worked with him. You can see the passion, the drive. There’s a real hunger to get it right. These aren’t just words coming out of his mouth.
“He’s desperate to get the team back to winning games of cricket. I can’t say anything but positivity in terms of what he has done leadership wise in the dressing room, trying to move this team forward.”
Collingwood said the likes of Root and all-rounder Ben Stokes had been “superb” on their Caribbean tour but added he understood the scrutiny the team is under.
“I can see it because we’re not winning games of cricket,” he said. “When you have that kind of record, I can understand where the noise comes from.”
Tony
Roar Guru
We can only hope
Tony
Roar Guru
Yeah, but everything feels good in the dressing room. It only goes s.hit shaped when they take the field.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Keep him there the next 10 years. Keep the same players and coach. Change nothing. Expect a better result.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
I always thought Collingwood was a smart operator. If he can't see why Root's captaincy is being questioned when they've lost their last 5 series and won one of their last 17 test matches, I must have been wrong
Linphoma
Guest
Loyal subordinate is Paul Collingwood. He's built his career on it. Regret to say at this point Stokes qualifies as an automatic selection but he's stated he doesn't want the gig.
DaveTarquin
Roar Rookie
Of course Collingwood is surprised. Root is the only automatic selection in the team. Anderson & Broad should be but they are on their last legs,