Joe Root has stepped down as England Test captain on the back of the Ashes disaster in Australia and a series defeat in the West Indies.
The ECB released a statement to say Root had opted to resign in the wake of recent results, with the record-breaking skipper citing the heavy toll it has taken on him but also saying he was immensely proud of his achievements.
Root holds the record for the most number of matches and wins as England men’s Test captain with 27 victories, ahead of Michael Vaughan (26), Alastair Cook, and Andrew Strauss (24 each) but the team has won just once in its past 17 outings.
“After returning from the Caribbean tour and having time to reflect, I have decided to step down as England 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,” Root said in the ECB statement.
“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.
“I have loved leading my country, but recently it’s hit home how much of a toll it has taken on me and the impact it has had on me away from the game.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank my family, Carrie, Alfred and Bella, who have lived it all with me and been incredible pillars of love and support throughout. All of the players, coaches and support staff that have helped me during my tenure. It has been a great privilege to have been with them on this journey.
“I would also like to thank all the England supporters for their unwavering support. We are lucky to have the best fans in the world, and wherever we play, that positivity is something we always cherish and admire, which is a huge drive for all of us out there.
“I am excited to continue representing the Three Lions and producing performances that will enable the team to succeed. I look forward to helping the next captain, my teammates and coaches in whatever way I can.”
Root was heavily criticised for his leadership in the 4-0 Ashes tour defeat while the side drew the first two matches against the West Indies before capitulating in the third Test to lose by 10 wickets.
All-rounder Ben Stokes is the likely successor to Root, particularly given he is one of very few English players who is guaranteed a spot in the team who has any captaincy experience.
After being appointed as Cook’s successor in 2017, Root led the side to a 4-1 home series win over India in 2018 and a 3-1 triumph away to South Africa in 2020. In 2018 he became the first England captain to win a Test series in Sri Lanka since 2001, a feat he went on to repeat with a 2-0 victory in Sri Lanka in 2021.
He is England’s second highest Test run scorer of all time behind only Cook and scored 14 centuries as skipper. His tally of 5295 runs as captain is the highest by any Englishman and puts him fifth in the all-time list behind only Graeme Smith, Alan Border, Ricky Ponting and Virat Kohli.
ECB CEO Tom Harrison said Root would “continue to drive English cricket forward as a senior player, offering his wealth of experience and advice to support his successor”.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
I think you expect that the England captain could magically extract something from the Test set up that is not possible. The issue was not Root. He's handed in his captain's cap. But it wouldn't have mattered who had been the captain in the set up that has been England Test/FC cricket of the last 10 years. All were (are) doomed to failure as things currently stand more broadly in English FC cricket.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Whoever is anointed captain, isn't going to solve the bigger issues at play in England Test and FC cricket. The issues Root faced in the Test captaincy role, go way beyond just actually being the England captain re having influence as to how the Test side performs. Root was neutered from the start and changing captains will not result in one iota of difference in my opinion; much broader issues are at play that require strategic rethinking. So whether it's Stokes, or Bairstow, or Broad...makes no difference re the performance of England for the next 5-10 years IMO. They need a serious refocus. Perhaps that starts at a Board level which then re-evaluates and resets England cricket for the next 15 years. But getting the right Board in place to actually do that is the challenge; is it a continuation of the current corporate/marketing/finance/commercial-broadcast types... or is it a reset with cricket tragics, who have the corporate and entrepreneurial nous where their primary focus is on guardianship of the game itself?
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Root was hamstrung during his captaincy tenure. By both player talent and support staff (inclusive of the coaching structure). I can't find a way to lay much fault re results at the feet of Root. Much bigger issues at play in England Test cricket IMHO. But can understand why he would step down; at some point it becomes a thankless task and if I were in his shoes, I'd also wonder why bother to continue being the public punching bag after having given one's all in the role, when the system provides no backbone as to supporting the captaincy position. England's Test set up needs a ten year makeover, from a top-down approach, complimented by a concurrent bottoms-up restructured and refocused approach at domestic feeder level. They need to get a framework in place that delivers both, though I think the likelihood of it happening is low. Sadly.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Yeah Stokes has a decent cricket brain and can inspire. But it’d be tough for all those reasons you mention, plus no wind down during a game.
Nudge
Roar Rookie
That’s the big issue, do they actually have anyone possible. Stokes is the obvious one, but he has stated that he’s not that keen on it. That was a while ago so maybe his mind has changed. Is he a half decent option though? His record off the field isn’t good, and he missed nearly a year of cricket with mental illness issues. Is captaincy going to help that. Who else could possibly do it? Butler is not in the team and neither is Broad. Bairstow is, and I think he has captaincy experience at his county. If Stokes says no then maybe Bairstow is the man. Not a great option I wouldn’t have thought
jameswm
Roar Guru
Since the Warner punch, I've tried really hard to dislike Joe. However, it's been very hard. He does seem a good man.
jameswm
Roar Guru
The results haven't been good, so not really much choice. He's still their best batsman and player, he can just concentrate on that now. No idea who else there is.
Linphoma
Guest
Good luck for the future Joe. Look out for him to go on another tear with the bat now he's relieved of the captaincy.
Joshua Makepeace
Roar Rookie
Root's done what he can, now it is surely Stokes' time to take over.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
very true rowdy Shane Paine couldn’t follow his lead after being beaten by 8nd8a on home soil twice and probably Ponto after a third ashes loss . doesn’t diminish Paine was a great keeper and pointing one of our best batsmen of all time . much like root to england as a batsman . these men were just not great captains but amazing cricketers with their batting or keeping etc
Nick
Roar Guru
Unless the next skipper averages 150 with the bag, 10 with the ball and can keep wicket, they're still a terrible, terrible team and no new captain will change that
The Late News
Roar Rookie
Right. Clean slate now for the ECB. You can only live and perform in now so I hope history judges Root well.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I have no pleasure in him resigning but it shows he has some pride. He tried, he failed, he faced upto it. You always want the opposition to be at it's best.
Keith Griffen
Guest
What can one say. Rooted. No one better to lead. With tough assignments against NZ and a rampaging SA , he had no choice. In 30 tests against Australia, root has only been in 7 Victories, all in England. In 15 tests in Australia, root has not won once
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
They don’t need to choose the next skipper in a hurry as they haven’t any games. You’re dead right, the CEO and coach need to be in place to choose Root’s replacement
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Terrific player, seemingly a terrific bloke. You’d have to worry about mental health given how awful the team has been so I’m glad he’s made this decision. As an Australian living in London, I’d like a competitive Ashes series and a big shake up is required to make that happen.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Surely England must now fast forward its decision on the coach first . Then that person whoever it is must be involved in who he wants his captain to be . I’m also not convinced about Stokes .