Star batsman Joe Root stepped down from the post of captain of England's Test team on Friday. He had taken over from Alastair Cook in 2017.
According to ESPN Cricinfo, Root had “overseen more games (64), wins (27) and defeats (26) than any other England captain”. There had been speculation that Root would have to make way after defeats in the Ashes and tour of the West Indies. In his last 17 Tests as captain, England had only won one match.
Root had led England to a number of memorable victories. These wins include “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 Men's 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,” according to the England and Wales Cricket Board.
Root had scored more runs, 5,295, as England Test captain than any of his predecessors, making him fifth in the all-time list of captains with most runs.
In a statement shared by the ECB, Root said “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... 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.”
Root declared he intended to continue playing for England and looked forward to “helping the next captain”.
ECB CEO Tom Harrison describe Root as an “exceptional role model during his tenure, balancing the demands of Test captaincy whilst continuing to shine brilliantly through his own personal performances.”
According to ESPN Cricinfo, Ben Stokes is the favourite to replace Cook, while Rory Burns, Stuart Broad and Jos Buttler are also contenders.