Former Test spinner Monty Panesar thinks England’s victory against Australia at The Oval may have rescued Joe Root by the sack.
England captain Root chose the catch to dismiss guy Josh Hazlewood and also a 135-run success at the final and fifth Test, ensuring his side drew the series 2-2.
But Panesar – who played 50 Tests between 2006 and 2013 – believes Root might have lost the captaincy if Australia had were able to assimilate their hosts.
“I feel this week has rescued him” Panesar told Sky Sports News. “If Australia had won 3-1, I think the ECB could have been having that polite conversation with him and they’d potentially ask him to resign.
“He’s been batting well, but can it be good for the team that he captains England in addition to batting? I believe his kind has slightly deteriorated since the series has gone on.
“However he turned around this week – he dug in deep and was able to reveal he wishes to be the person to lead England. The winter tours are going to be huge for him.
“He needs to succeed against New Zealand and South Africa and when he is really decided to lead England, he needs to show the sort of cricket we’ve seen this week at The Oval.
“He’s obviously still very passionate and he wishes to take that challenge on. We’ll see over the winter months if he’s in a position to keep his form as we understand Joe Root captain the team nicely and can.
“I am sure within the next six weeks the ECB will evaluate the way he plays as a captain and also a batsman and then they’ll make a determination.”
Root, who succeeded Alastair Cook as Test captain in February 2017, was third at the England batting averages scoring 325 runs in 10 innings.
The attracted string was a swansong for England head coach Trevor Bayliss, who’d declared his death prior to a summer where the men’s team won their first World Cup.
The ECB have to name a successor to the Australian, however Panesar would rather see them retain the structure of professional coaches operating under an general supremo.
“I believe they need to have a single head coach and then the supporters,” he further added. “Ideally I would like them to become English coaches because the ECB have invested heavily in their own coaching programmes and it is nice to see that a stepping stone into the national team.
“The likes of Paul Collingwood and Marcus Trescothick have been engaged in the England set-up over the summertime, Chris Silverwood is a great fast bowling coach and they’ve also got Saqlain Mushtaq.
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