Former Evaluation spinner Monty Panesar thinks England’s victory against Australia at The Oval Might Have rescued Joe Root by the Sofa.
England captain Root took the catch to dismiss last guy Josh Hazlewood and also a 135-run success at the fifth and final Test, ensuring his side drew the series 2-2.
But Panesar – that played 50 Tests between 2006 and 2013 – feels if Australia had were able to assimilate their hosts to a series 32, Root may well have lost the captaincy.
“I think this week has saved him,” Panesar told Sky Sports News. “If Australia had won 3-1, then I think the ECB could have been having that polite talk with him and they would potentially ask him to step down.
“He has been batting well, but is it great for the staff he captains England in addition to batting? I believe since the series has gone his kind has slightly improved.
“However he turned it around this week – he dug in deep and was able to show he wishes to be the individual to lead England. The winter tours are going to be large for him.
“He needs to do well from New Zealand and South Africa and if he’s really determined to lead England, he needs to demonstrate the kind of cricket we’ve seen this week at The Oval.
“He is obviously still quite passionate and he wants to take that challenge on. If he’s ready to keep his batting form as we know Joe Root captain the team well and can we’ll see over the wintertime.
“I am sure over the next six weeks the ECB will assess how he performs as a captain and also a batsman and they’ll make a choice.”
Root, who succeeded Alastair Cook at February 2017 as Test captain, was third at the England batting averages throughout the Ashes series, scoring 325 runs in 10 innings.
The drawn series was a swansong for England head coach Trevor Bayliss, who’d announced his death prior to a summer where the federal men’s team won their very first World Cup that is 50-over.
Panesar would prefer to see them retain specialist coaches functioning under an total supremo’s structure, although the ECB have to name a successor to the Australian.
“I think they need to have a single head coach and then the supporters,” he added. “Ideally I would like them to become English coaches because the ECB have invested heavily in their coaching programmes and it’s wonderful to see that a stepping stone into the national group.
“The likes of Paul Collingwood and Marcus Trescothick are involved in the England setup over the summer, Chris Silverwood is a great quick bowling coach and they have also obtained Saqlain Mushtaq.
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