Joe Root calls time on his England Test cricket captaincy
One undoubted plus to Root’s resignation is he can now concentrate on batting
The timing may have been a shock, coming as it did “early on Good Friday”, said Mike Atherton in The Times. But there was nothing surprising about the decision itself. The utter woefulness of England’s recent performances – they’ve lost 11 of their last 17 Test matches – has finally forced Joe Root to acknowledge what most people have known for a while: that his time was up as England captain.
Root has been in the job for five years, making him England’s longest-serving captain, said Ali Martin in The Guardian. And he leaves it with a curiously mixed record: he is the captain with the most Test victories (27), but also the most defeats (26). Some of his achievements have been highly impressive, notably the series wins in South Africa and India, and he has been an “unimpeachable ambassador for the English game”, but he never realised his ultimate ambition of “being an Ashes-winning captain”.
Root is a “man of utmost decency” who has often excelled in the pastoral side of captaincy, said Alan Gardner on ESPNcricinfo. When Ben Stokes unexpectedly withdrew from the Test squad last summer, he offered an impeccably judged message of support. His relationship with his bowlers has been “more complex”, however. By over-bowling Jofra Archer in 2019, he arguably contributed to the elbow injury that may well end the fast bowler’s Test career. He has also been criticised for mishandling his “seam bowling totems, James Anderson and Stuart Broad”.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
One undoubted plus to Root’s resignation is that it will enable him to concentrate all his energies on his batting, said Oliver Brown in The Daily Telegraph. Although early in his captaincy Root performed superbly, the “strain” has started to take a toll. Still only 31, he should have another “five prime years ahead of him”: there is no good reason why he “cannot return to the glories of his pomp”.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
'Horror stories of women having to carry nonviable fetuses'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Haiti interim council, prime minister sworn in
Speed Read Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigns amid surging gang violence
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - April 26, 2024
Cartoons Friday's cartoons - teleprompter troubles, presidential immunity, and more
By The Week US Published
-
The England kit: a furore over the flag
Why everyone's talking about Nike's redesign of the St George's Cross on the collar of the English national team's shirt has caused controversy
By The Week UK Published
-
Bobby Charlton: England's old-fashioned sporting hero
Obituary Not only was Sir Bobby one of the country's greatest-ever footballers he was lauded for his demeanour on and off the pitch
By The Week UK Published
-
Coco Gauff: a tennis prodigy comes of age with US Open win
American 19-year-old battled back from a set down to claim first grand slam title
By The Week Staff Published
-
Adam and Simon Yates become the first twins to top a Tour de France stage
feature Good news stories from the past seven days
By The Week Staff Published
-
The Ashes: can England mount a glorious comeback?
feature ‘Herculean’ task follows ugly scenes at controversial second test
By The Week Staff Published
-
Football, F1, golf, boxing: are the Saudis taking over?
Talking Point Huge salaries are drawing players to Saudi as kingdom seeks ‘reputational gains’
By The Week Staff Published
-
English cricket is ‘racist, sexist and elitist’, says independent report
Speed Read Chair of governing body apologises after crushing indictment of the sport ‘at all levels’
By Rebekah Evans Published
-
‘Genuine visionary’: is Pep Guardiola the greatest of all time?
feature Spaniard has now won two trebles following Man City’s Champions League triumph
By The Week Staff Published