Ashes 2021-22: Chris Woakes Backs Joe Root To Lead England In Tests, Says 'Captaincy Isn't Having Effect On His Batting'

England all-rounder Chris Woakes has backed Joe Root to lead England in Tests after the team’s miserable defeat to Australia in the ongoing Ashes 2021-22. Woakes has said that Joe Root’s batting has not been affected by captaincy and feels that the latter will continue to be the Test skipper for England.

England have lost the opening three games of the Ashes 2021-22 series against Australia. With an unassailable lead of 3-0 in the five-match Test series, Australia have already regained the Ashes urn. Despite England’s defeats, Joe Root is the leading run-getter in the series so far, scoring 253 runs in 6 innings at an average of 42.17.

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Also Read: Ashes 2021-22: Don’t Think I’ve Seen A Worse-Performing Team In Australia: Ricky Ponting Slams England

Joe Root Has Got A Great Cricket Brain: Chris Woakes

When Chris Woakes was asked whether he feels Joe Root should continue to lead England in Tests post humiliating Ashes debacle, he backed Root for the role. Woakes said that Root has good cricket brains and his record as a skipper is pretty good.

“It’s clear that the captaincy isn’t having an effect on his batting, which a lot of the time with captains can be the case. The fact that he’s scoring the runs he is, is great for the team. It would be great if we could help him out with that and build some partnerships with him, and score a few more runs around him.

“But Joe is a great cricketer, he’s got a great cricket brain. I think his record as England captain is pretty good, as far as I’m aware. I definitely feel like Joe will continue,” Chris Woakes said.

Joe Root has slammed three half-centuries in 6 innings in Ashes 2021-22 so far, hitting knocks of 89, 60, and 50 in those innings. Chris Woakes was rested in the 3rd Test after playing the first two games. Woakes picked 2 wickets in the first two Tests at an average of 76.0. With the bat, he scored 105 runs in 4 innings at an average of 26.25.

Also Read: Ashes 2021-22: Geoffrey Boycott Asks Joe Root To Give Up England Test Captaincy

All the three Tests so far witnessed Australia dominating England. Australia won the 1st Test by 9 wickets. In the second game, the home side bagged victory by 275 runs. In the 3rd Test, they defeated England by an innings and 14 runs as the latter faced a miserable batting collapse in the 2nd innings, getting bowled out for just 68.

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