Vaughan blasts ECB for leaving Root in lurch as captain

JOE Root’s Test captaincy has been sabotaged by England’s World Cup focus and he should “walk tomorrow morning” unless the hierarchy promises to fix its broken redball system.

Root’s individual brilliance last year was overshadowed by England losing the most matches in its history and former captain Michael Vaughan said Root was wasting his time attempting to lead a team that was set up to fail.

ECB managing director Ashley Giles jetted into Sydney on the weekend, and a thorough review into the latest Ashes humiliation is set to begin with two Tests still to be played.

Coach Chris Silverwood is odds-on to lose his job, but Vaughan said the skipper should be spared – and then it was down to Root to decide if he wanted to remain in charge.

“So long as he’s got the mind and gets the support and gets the dedication from the ECB that things are going to be different (he should stay),” Vaughan said.

“But if it’s going to be the same then he should walk tomorrow morning. Because what’s the point?

“If England and the ECB aren’t going to change the system and change the way they work with the red-ball team and give him more tools … I just think one or two people within the backroom could be better.

“I don’t think Joe’s been supported brilliantly. If you look at his time as England captain it was all about the World Cup in 2019, so he had no real support leading into that (home Ashes).

“The World Cup finished and they were playing the Ashes about eight days later, so there was no build-up.

“As soon as we drew the Ashes in England (2019) it was all about this tour, then that all got changed because of Covid.

“But the T20 World Cup was moved to this year and they ended up focusing a bit more on the white-ball team.

“As an England captain, I don’t think he (Root) has had much fortune.”