England all-rounder Ben Stokes backed skipper Joe Root and said that the right-hander should continue captaining the side in Tests despite poor show in ongoing Ashes 2021-22.
Root and co. are having a horrendous campaign in the ongoing Ashes 2021-22 in Australia. The Joe Root-led side has been at the receiving end of big defeats in the first three matches of the five-Test series.
England first suffered a 9-wicket thumping in Gabba and then was decimated in a 275-run thrashing in the day-night Test in Adelaide. If this was not enough they then suffered massive innings and 14 runs defeat to go 0-3 down in the series and lose the Ashes 2021-22, with two matches to go.
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Following England’s poor show in the ongoing five-match Test series, skipper Joe Root has received a lot of flak for his tactics and decision-making. Although there’s no denying the fact that he carried his team’s batting line-up in Tests in 2021 but his captaincy has been under the scanner.
Many fans and pundits lashed out at Joe Root, saying that they haven’t seen any leadership quality in the England skipper and he should step down as a Test skipper.
Speaking to ESPNCricinfo, English all-rounder Ben Stokes backed skipper Joe Root and said that the right-hander is someone he’ll always want to play for.
"Captaincy is more than about setting fields, picking the team, making decisions out there in the middle. A captain is someone you want to go out and play for. Joe Root is someone I always want to play for," Ben Stokes said.
Ben Stokes further showed support to England’s head coach Chris Silverwood, who tested positive for COVID-19 and is isolating with his family in Melbourne.
He rued criticism related to Joe Root and Chris Silverwood for their future as leaders of the England team, saying that both of them have the support of everyone in the dressing room and that’s all that matters.
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"At the end of the day, the most important people's opinions are those guys in the dressing room and they've got our thorough support. Chris Silverwood... he's a real players' coach. He stands up for you as individuals and players as well," he said.
"All the hype in the media recently about their futures, it's your [the media's] job to write that. But they know full well they have the support of everyone in there and that's all that matters," he said.
The fourth Test of Ashes 2021-22 will take place on 5th January at SCG. While the fifth and final Test match, a day-night affair, will take place on 14th January at Hobart.
(ANI Inputs)
