England captain Joe Root has intimated that the third Test against the West Indies might be his last assignment as the country’s Test captain. On March 24, the third Test match between West Indies and England will be held at the National Cricket Stadium in St George’s, Grenada. Following two draws in the previous two matches, both sides will be trying to claim victory in the last match of the series to secure the series victory.
Following the departure of experienced batsman Alastair Cook, Joe Root was named as England’s Test captain in February 2017. Since then, Root has led his team in the longest version of the game 63 times. His position, on the other hand, has been under intense examination in the wake of England’s humiliating defeat by Australia in the Ashes series earlier this year. The Three Lions were defeated 0-4 in the series in Australia.
Joe Root believes he is the most qualified candidate to lead the team forward
“I believe I am the most qualified candidate to lead the team forward. However, if the head coach comes in and has a different opinion, that’s great. It’s their choice,” Joe Root was reported as saying by the Mirror.
“I’m a die-hard England supporter. All I want is for us to accomplish well in our endeavours. Consequently, I will continue to do all in my power to improve us. Even if this means that I am no longer in this position, I will continue to do everything in my power to assist this squad and to strive for us to become the finest team in the world. That will never change,” he went on to say.
When it comes to Root’s statistics in Test cricket, the 31-year-old has participated in 116 matches and scored a whopping 9884 runs at an average of over 50. In addition, the right-handed batsman has hit 53 fifties and 25 centuries in his career. Root has also scored five centuries in one-day internationals and 32 in Twenty20 internationals. He has played 152 one-day internationals and 32 Twenty20 internationals for England.
Meanwhile, former England cricketer Paul Collingwood has been appointed as the team’s temporary coach for this trip to the West Indies. In advance of their home series against New Zealand in June 2022, the England Cricket Board (ECB) intends to appoint a permanent head coach to lead the national team.
