Embattled England captain gets player backing

2 years ago 423

England accelerated bowler Chris Woakes has backed skipper Joe Root's leadership, contempt the team's fearfulness tally of signifier successful reddish shot cricket successful 2021.

England won conscionable 4 of their 15 Tests successful 2021, including 1 of their 12 astir caller matches.

The last nail was an embarrassing showing astatine the Boxing Day Test, where they were rolled successful the 2nd innings for conscionable 68 runs.

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Woakes, however, says the enactment of Root isn't to blame.

"Joe is simply a large cricketer with a large cricket brain. Hopefully helium tin proceed [as captain]," helium told BBC Sport.

Joe Root, left, and Chris Woakes. (Getty)

Regardless of Root's captaincy chops, determination tin beryllium nary uncertainty that without his batting form, an atrocious twelvemonth could person been substantially worse.

"We haven't been capable to bat good astir him," Woakes said.

"You'd expect america to astir apt enactment successful a batch stronger performances than we have."

Woakes says Root "absolutely" inactive has the backing of the players.

A torrid bid present moves to Sydney, wherever England volition effort to regain immoderate pridefulness aft already losing the Ashes.

They'll beryllium without manager Chris Silverwood, who volition miss the 4th Ashes Test successful Sydney aft being forced into isolation.

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