Joe Root has stepped down as England Men’s Test captain, confirmed the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB, on Friday.
Root, who has been in the role for five years, decided to quit following England’s Test series losses against Australia and the West Indies. In the Ashes, the English side faced a 0-4 defeat, followed by the three-Test series against West Indies 0-1.
Notably, Root is the most successful England Test skipper after having won 27 Tests, which puts him ahead of England geats such as Michael Vaughan, Alastair Cook, and Andrew Strauss.
“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,” said Root in an official statement released by ECB.
“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,” he added.
Root also thanked his family, coaches, and cricket fans, who all supported him and the England team irrespective of their performances on the field.
“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 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,” Root added further.
