England fast bowler Chris Woakes has backed captain Joe Root’s leadership, despite the team’s horror run of form in red ball cricket in 2021.
England won just four of their 15 Tests in 2021, including one of their 12 most recent matches.
The final nail was an embarrassing showing at the Boxing Day Test, where they were rolled in the second innings for just 68 runs.
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Woakes, however, says the leadership of Root isn’t to blame.
“Joe is a great cricketer with a great cricket brain. Hopefully he can continue [as captain],” he told BBC Sport.
Regardless of Root’s captaincy chops, there can be no doubt that without his batting form, an awful year could have been substantially worse.
“We haven’t been able to bat well around him,” Woakes said.
“You’d expect us to probably put in a lot stronger performances than we have.”
Woakes says Root “absolutely” still has the backing of the players.
A torrid series now moves to Sydney, where England will attempt to regain some pride after already losing the Ashes.
They’ll be without coach Chris Silverwood, who will miss the fourth Ashes Test in Sydney after being forced into isolation.
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