Andrew Strauss reckons that it was indeed Cook's time to step down

Andrew Strauss has stated that he respects Alastair Cook’s decision to step-down as England captain following a few people who have been questioning Cook’s retention of the captaincy after the terribly arduous tour of India. England were thrashed out of sight by the Indians 4-0 in the five-match Test series. Strauss, who had handed the captaincy to Cook following his retirement stated that it was perhaps a good time for perhaps Joe Root to lead the side.

“He did it the right way. He didn’t jump to conclusions, he allowed the dust to settle after the India tour, he took some time to speak to the people closest to him, whom he trusted. I support and understand that decision.”

“When the India tour finished, Alastair said to everyone that he’d sit down with me and talk things through,” Strauss said, “both the learnings from the India tour and what the England team could do to get better, but also his own position.

“We met up in January and I was interested to see how he had fared in India. I know how draining the England captaincy can be, especially on a long tour away from home when you are on the wrong end of the result.

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Strauss went on to add that there was a conversation around the fact that the amount of drive one needed to be the skipper of the side, “So we had a conversation around that, and it was pretty clear that Alastair knew how much drive, determination and energy was going to be required of the England captain in the next 12 months or so.

He went on to conclude that Joe Root was someone the establishment was keenly looking at. “He had some thoughts and reservations about how much he had left in the tank as England’s longest-serving Test captain, and it was right that we didn’t jump to conclusions, and let the dust settle. I allowed him to go away and think further. But, over the last ten days or so, it was clear his mind was made up.”

“Now’s the chance for myself and selectors, and the coach, to have conversations amongst ourselves and some players in the England environment, to get an understanding of who the right person is, what their philosophy is, and how they intent to take the team forward, so that when we come to announce the new captain, we are sure he’s the right man.”