Former England batter Mark Butcher has slammed the decision to reappoint Joe Root as Test captain, calling it “a retrograde step”.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed on Thursday that Root will return as skipper following Ben Stokes’ retirement – alongside New Zealander Stephen Fleming replacing Brendon McCullum as red-ball head coach.
Root previously led the Test side from 2017 to 2022 before Stokes and McCullum’s more attacking ‘Bazball’ era took off.
And amid a lack of viable options, with white-ball captain Harry Brook the only real alternative, the ECB had to make a snap decision ahead of a looming home Test series against Pakistan.
Butcher criticises decision
After the news of Root’s reappointment broke, Butcher told Sky Sports: “Sadly, I’m not surprised.
“I was hoping that was a decision they weren’t going to make.
“Joe has already captained England 65 times now after that game at The Oval in the middle of that chaotic New Zealand series.
“Ben Stokes, Brendon McCullum, Rob Key were the reaction to Joe Root’s captaincy the first time around.
“This revolutionising of the way we play Test-match cricket came off the back of 17 Test matches with only one victory under Joe.”
READ MORE: Cricket news: Joe Root named England Test captain; Stephen Fleming takes charge after McCullum exit
‘A retrograde step’
On Root’s suitability to the England captaincy, Butcher added: “Joe was completely wrung out at the end of his time as captain for five years.
“The best thing that happened to him and his game was not being captain any more.
“His batting since has been on a different level, and I rather hoped it would stay that way and he would be a loyal lieutenant to Harry Brook or whoever they decided was going to get the job on a permanent basis.
“I think it’s a retrograde step for the team when they had an opportunity to go forward again, having learned the lessons of the recent past under Stokes and McCullum.
“I cannot agree with that as a call.
“Joe is a brilliant player, absolutely sensational – there’s nothing that you can say against him on that level.
“I just don’t think it’s the best move for him to be captain at this moment in time or at any other moment in time actually.”
England vs Pakistan Test series
First Test (Headingley) – Wednesday August 19 to Sunday August 23 (11am UK time)
Second Test (Lord’s) – Thursday August 27 to Monday August 31 (11am UK time)
Third Test (Edgbaston) – Wednesday September 9 to Sunday September 13 (11am UK time)
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