England Test skipper Joe Root has stepped down from the role with immediate effect. Root took over the reins of the England team after Sir Alastair Cook stepped down from the role after 4-0 drubbing against India in 2016-17. Root’s first assignment as a Test skipper was the four-match series against South Africa at home in 2017. Since then, he led the team in 64 games, winning 27, losing 26 and drawing 11, with a win percentage of 42.18. In the last year, the Yorkshire-born player had a torrid time as captain. Since winning the two-match series against Sri Lanka in the latter’s backyard, his side suffered a massive slump.
In fact, the team has won only two out of the last 18 games. Early this year, the team was thrashed 4-0 in Ashes in Australia. Last month, they lost the three-match series against the West Indies 1-0. After constant failures, questions were raised on Root’s leadership skills.
Meanwhile, Joe Root released a statement and said that he is extremely proud to have led the country, adding that stepping down as England captain was one of the most challenging decisions.Â
“After returning from the Caribbean tour and having time to reflect, I have decided to step down as England’s men’s Test captain,” Root said as reported by ESPNcricinfo.
 “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. 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. I had 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.”
