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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Will Macpherson

Joe Root not concerned about potentially losing England captaincy: “I just want to see us do well”

On the eve of England’s final Test against West Indies, captain Joe Root says he is giving no thought to what follows: the arrival of a new Managing Director and Head Coach who may have radically different ideas about how to take the team forward.

England are winless this winter and have won just one of their last 16 Tests, but with this series locked at 0-0, they have a shot at taking a hard-fought series.

England are currently recruiting for a new Managing Director of Cricket, who will employ a Head Coach. Root, who has captained England more than any other man, has made clear his desire to remain in the job, but is at peace with the fact that it might be taken out of his hands.

“I don’t think it puts my pressure on me,” said Root. “All I want to do is help this team become as good as it possible can be. I think I’m the right man to take the team forward. If the Head Coach comes in and thinks differently, that’s fine, that’s his decision.

“But while I’m in this position, I’ll do everything I can to make this team as good as I possibly can. Over the course of these two games, we have made strides forward and that’s really pleasing.

“I’m a massive England fan. I just want to see us do well. While I’m in this position, whoever I can affect this team, I’ll keep doing everything I can to make us as good as we can be.

“If it means in time I’m no longer in this position, I’ll still do everything I can to help this team and to try to take us to be the best team in the world. That will never change.

“That passion for making England as good as we can be will always be there whatever capacity I have within this team. I really hope I get that opportunity but it’s completely out of my control.

“The thing that is in my control, is helping this team put in a really strong performance, win this series – which would be a phenomenal achievement; not many teams have done it. Off the back of a very difficult winter, it would be a great way to round things off and a great way to start this year.”

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