The sense of schadenfreude emanating from Australia after England’s latest week of turmoil is so strong you can smell it. The only thing that would make the stench even more potent is if England decide Joe Root is the man to take over the Test captaincy from Ben Stokes.
There are two realistic choices to succeed Stokes following his shock international retirement in Nottingham during the final Test against New Zealand – Root or Harry Brook.
Neither is perfect. Yet if England opt to give Root another go in the job he held between 2017 and early 2022, they may as well hand next summer’s Ashes series to Australia right now.
That is not because Root is a poor captain. But he is not a great one either. Tactically he is okay, but not brilliant.
That was seen again a couple of weeks ago at The Oval after he took over on an interim basis when Stokes was suspended following his now infamous curfew-busting night out at Chelsea’s Rex Rooms.
