Graham Thorpe

Shubro Mukherjee ∙ 4 Feb 2022

Despite Ashes debacle, Joe Root retains his place as England Test captain

England interim director and former skipper Andrew Strauss has sacked assistant coach Graham Thorpe in the wake of the Ashes debacle but has thrown his weight behind Joe Root to continue as Test skipper. Thorpe has become the third casualty of England's Ashes cull as he joins managing director Ashley Giles and head coach + chief selector, Chris Silverwood, to leave the management as part of the fallout from the 0-4 hiding in Australia this winter. Following the defeat in Australia, Root's position had come under intense scrutiny. Root has now presided over three back-to-back Ashes defeats but Strauss believes that the 30-year-old is still the right man for the job as he is incredibly motivated and enjoys the confidence of his team members. Root will lead England in a three-match Test series in the Caribbean next month. "Having spoken to Joe it is absolutely clear the extent of his commitment to moving this England team forward," said Strauss as quoted by the Daily Mail UK. "He’s got incredible motivation and energy to do that. He’s bruised, hugely disappointed by what went on in the Ashes and I think it goes without saying there are many others in the same boat on that one," he added. "But he has the respect of the players, they all play for him, and he sets a magnificent example both on and off the field so I’m very happy to give him my support and make sure he has the right structure around him to take pressure off him and make sure he can do his job," the ECB Director added. With Silverwood and Thorpe sacked, England are without a full-time head coach, chief selector and batting coach. Strauss said that the West Indies tour could see interim appointments like Alex Stewart, Richard Dawson fill in the role before he and the ECB chart out a long-term plan for English Test cricket. He has not committed to a long-term role as managing director but has asserted that he will leave no stone unturned in charting out a road to long term recovery for the Test team. "There are decisions to be made on the focus of the tour. It’s very important we go out and win but it’s also about looking forward and we have to think about that with the interim coach and selection," said Strauss. "The only way we can look at it at the moment is to get through the West Indies tour and after that there will be some time for us to step back and think strategically about what is needed. We want someone who can add value to the team," he added. "This is short-term. My role is to help prepare the team for the West Indies series and to recommend some structural changes and help Tom Harrison with the recruitment of the roles, including the new managing director of England cricket. However long it takes I’m prepared to play that role," He also hasn't ruled out the possibility of Australian coach Justin Langer taking over as the English coach in the near future. "I know Justin well and on the surface, he’s done a very good job with Australia,’ added Strauss. "So I wouldn’t rule him out but I’m sure there are plenty of others as well." Meanwhile, under pressure ECB chief Tom Harrison has responded to the calls of people asking for his axe, stating, "I am not running away from this challenge,’ said Harrison at Lord’s. ‘It’s been exceptionally difficult but it needs leadership and consistency in how we build back and get to a place where we can recover from an extremely difficult period both on and off the field". England will look to get back on track when they lock horns with the West Indies in a three-match series in March.