‘Joe’s captaincy lacks imagination’: Geoffrey Boycott wants Root to step down as England captain

England have endured a horrific outing in the ongoing Ashes in Australia. The team has been bamboozled in the first three games. The batters have looked clueless against a ruthless Australia bowling. Meanwhile, the Ashes misery is not the only concern for England. The team has been performing poorly since the last year or so. They suffered series defeats to India and New Zealand before the Ashes.

Questions are also being raised on Joe Root’s leadership skills, with many demanding his resignation. The latest to join the bandwagon is former England skipper Geoffrey Boycott, who feels Root is not a thoughtful skipper.

“Joe’s captaincy lacks imagination. His team selection and decision making has been staggeringly off the mark. At the end of this series the question should be asked: would England benefit from a change of captain? That’s not me trying to be hurtful to Joe or just being controversial. We all love Joe. So far this series we have been dreadful and if Joe believes what he has been saying then it is time for someone else to be given the opportunity to try and galvanise the players. Captains accept the accolades when their team wins so they have to accept some blame or criticism when they lose,” he said.

Root has been in staggering form this year and became only the third player to cross 1700 Test runs in a calendar year. However, he has lacked support from other players. Boycott was also not impressed with Root’s excuses after England’s losses.  “Many of us are tired of these interviews where Joe says England will learn from a bad day or Joe says he expects a response after a poor performance. We have had enough of this rubbish. Stop treating us ex-players and cricket supporters as idiots. And let’s be honest – we haven’t just lost, we have been smashed.”