ROOT: I WANT TO STAY AS CAPTAIN
JOE ROOT insists he wants to carry on as England captain despite his side’s 4-0 Ashes humiliation.
But he believes that a major overhaul of the domestic game is required to revive the Test team’s fortunes.
England’s miserable tour of Australia ended with another embarrassing defeat yesterday in Hobart, as they collapsed from 68 without loss to 124 all out to lose the fifth Test by 146 runs.
Root has now suffered successive 4-0 defeats Down Under but he immediately declared his desire to stay on as skipper, even though he admitted any decision could be taken out of his hands.
‘I honestly think I’m the right person to take this
team forward — i hope i get that opportunity,’ said Root. ‘i feel i’ve got the support of the players and i’m very experienced in the role now. ‘it’s difficult when you get beaten heavily, we have to convince people i’m the right man. as
long as i have the opportunity to captain this team, i’ll throw everything into it. ‘generally there’s a fall guy. if that decision is taken out of my hands, so be it. i have an appetite to carry on and turn things around. i’ll keep sacrificing as much as i can because i care so much about test cricket in our country.’ a review of the ashes will be led by managing director ashley giles with coach chris Silverwood’s future in doubt. asked if he thought Silverwood will keep his job, Root said: ‘i hope so. there are underlying things that we need to change and i don’t think getting rid of the coach is the way to go.’ Silverwood said: ‘that’s something that will come out in the review later.’ Root, who confirmed he will not enter the iPL auction next month to prepare for the test summer, demanded a county shake-up. ‘We’ve got an opportunity to prioritise test cricket, make significant change,’ said
Root. ‘What incentives are there in the championship to open the batting, to be a spinner, to bowl fast? anyone coming into test cricket is doing it in spite of county cricket, not because of it.’ On the hobart defeat, Root said: ‘it hurts. there were some poor dismissals. as a batting group, far too many times we have been bowled out for less than 200. in all areas, we have been outplayed.’