Joe Root has opened up about his decision to resign as England Test captain, revealing the role was having an effect on his family.
Root stood down as skipper back in April following a series defeat to the West Indies, with his close friend and vice-captain Ben Stokes ultimately replacing him. And the 31-year-old has admitted he was starting to feel like "a shadow of the person that I want to be" towards the end of his time in charge.
In an appearance on the 'Vaughany & Tuffers Cricket Club' podcast, Root said: "The last couple of years, it took the life of me, really. And it did take its toll.
"It was the right decision for the group, first and foremost, but also for me personally, I wasn't myself. I was coming home from series and I wasn't able to switch off or be present with my family.
"I could see myself as a shadow of the person that I want to be. Sometimes you've got to be big enough to understand that it's time to move on and for someone else to take that great honour on.
"It was when I got home from the West Indies tour but I think it had been coming for a long time. I just didn't want to believe it.
"It was getting to a point where I started to notice it and see the effect it was having on not just my kids, but Carrie, my wife. It just wasn't fair on those guys."
Root also admitted he felt "relief" after relinquishing the captaincy and is content with his decision after the brilliant start new skipper Stokes has made, with England winning five of their six Test matches so far this summer.
"Out there [West Indies], I was desperate to turn things around," Root added. "To come back to England, have a fresh look at things, but I'm so glad that we went about things the way we did.
"And I spoke to Ben personally, as my vice-captain and probably closest friend within the group first, and quite a while before anyone else. And then it was quite a relief once I'd spoken to family and got that off my chest."
