Yorkshire 's interim managing director Darren Gough has issued a staunch defence of Joe Root following his decision to resign as England Test captain.
Gough said he felt Root had "done a good job" as skipper, despite England winning just one of their last 17 Test matches, claiming he had been hampered by 'injuries and changes in personnel'. He said: "I think he's done a good job, I really do. But the problem is that one win in 17 is the one that goes against him. Twenty seven Test victories, though.
"But I think Joe, and I've been in that dressing room environment in New Zealand, is hugely respected by every single player and coaching staff. And he was the perfect man for the job. He led from the front.
"Go down England's last 20 hundreds and it's Root, Root, Root, Root, Root. He's got about 17 of them! That’s how important he is to the team.
"He's a strong personality. Everybody thinks he's this relaxed, fun loving guy, which he is – he has a strong personality. But he's also a strong leader.
"When I was in that dressing room, I was impressed by his leadership skills and his vision. Unfortunately that vision has been interrupted by a lot of the injuries they've had and the changes in personnel."
Root came under fire following his side's most recent series defeat by the West Indies, with several former England captains, including mentor Michael Vaughan, calling for him to step down. And Gough believes that criticism was "harsh" and will have "hurt" Root.
He added: "I was surprised by the criticism. I think you have to look deeper than that. With everything that has been going on in English Cricket, I don't think you can blame the captain.
"He's had a lot of criticism. I think what probably hurt him, it's come from a lot of guys who played the game and captained England as well – some of his closest mates. Unfortunately, we're always looking for someone to blame.
"You have to have the players, and you're only as good as your players. You can be as good a captain as you want. Yes, you might be able to make a little one percent change, but you need the team.
"Rather than criticise, you have to look at 27 Test wins. And the pressure he was under with the team he's got around him, to still keep scoring hundreds in that period tells me that he's got a strong character and he's a great player.
"I think it's a bit harsh, but it's decided now and he can concentrate on his batting."
