Joe Root steps down as England’s Test team captain

Joe Root has announced his resignation as England's Test captain, after five years in the role, following a run of poor results capped by dispiriting tours of Australia and the Caribbean.

The 31-year-old was appointed as Alastair Cook’s successor in 2017 and holds the record for the most number of matches and wins as England Test captain. 

Joe has overseen more games, more wins and more defeats than any of his predecessors, including a 4-1 home series victory over India in 2018, and away triumphs against South Africa and Sri Lanka. 

Joe Root stepped down as England's Test cricket captain on Friday, ending his five-year spell in a role that became increasingly challenging because of the team's long run of series defeats. 

It leaves England's men's team not only without a captain, but also a coach and director of cricket after the departures of Chris Silverwood and Ashley Giles, respectively, in the wake of the Ashes.

However, English cricket undergoes a leadership reshuffle that is expected to see Rob Key take over as managing director of the men’s team.

As soon as Root's decision was made public by the England and Wales Cricket Board, Root was congratulated on a successful tenure as captain of the Three Lions.