CAPTAINCY DEBATE

Cook expected to make way for Root as captain

by Cricbuzz Staff • Published on

Recent reports on Tuesday suggest that Alastair Cook will resign as England captain when he meets Andrew Strauss, the Director of Cricket (ECB) later this week. © Cricbuzz

Reports in The Telegraph on Tuesday (January 10) suggest that Alastair Cook will resign as England captain when he meets Andrew Strauss, the Director of Cricket of England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), later this week. The current vice-captain Joe Root will be announced as his successor.

Cook looked a dispirited man towards the end of the recent Test series in India, devoid of energy and ideas, particularly in the last two matches where India made scores of over 600. It was thought some time off over Christmas would help refresh and rejuvenate, but it appears that Cook has decided it is the right time to go.

Should the Essex opener step down, his 59 Tests in charge, the most for any England captain in history with 24 wins, 22 defeats and 13 draws suggest he was a tough and decent leader, but not a great one. There were notable achievements during his tenure, including a fine Test series win in India in 2012, Ashes wins in 2013 and 2015 and an away series victory in South Africa last year.

However, set against that were some rather abject failures including England's first ever Test defeat to Bangladesh in October last year, a drawn series in the West Indies and the 5-0 whitewash at the hands of Australia in 2013/14. That defeat brought an end to Kevin Pietersen's international career, partly at Cook's instigation, which was the most controversial and difficult period of his captaincy.

Many called for Cook's resignation the following summer after further poor displays against Sri Lanka, but a series win against India helped stave off those demands, and Cook continued for another two years with some success helping to form the nucleus of a side with plenty of potential that Root will inherit.

If Cook resigns, there is no suggestion that he would not continue as a player and, at 32, and with 11,000 Test runs behind him, the left-hander has plenty of cricket left. With young Haseeb Hameed expected to open the batting next summer, Cook's class and experience will be vital in helping the 19 year-old settle in to his first home summer.

Root's first Test as captain would be against South Africa in the beginning of July and the Yorkshireman would have seven Tests before next winter's Ashes series in Australia to bed into the role. He has precious little captaincy experience, except for a handful of games for Yorkshire but he remains the obvious candidate for the job.

At 26, he would be the youngest permanent England captain since Michael Atherton, which some may regard as a risk but in truth, Root is the standout choice. England's management will hope the captaincy does the same for Root's game what it's done for Australia's Steve Smith and India's Virat Kohli - who have been in terrific form since taking charge of their respective sides.

© Cricbuzz

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