Ashes 2021-22: Brad Haddin wants Ben Stokes to replace Joe Root as England's Test captain

England’s Test skipper Joe Root has been on a roll with the bat this year. Having scored over 1600 Test runs this year, the right-handed batter is heads and shoulders above his contemporaries in 2021. However, the same hasn’t been said about his captaincy skills. The veteran cricketer has often been called out for taking wrong decisions that have cost the national team big time.

Root’s captaincy in the ongoing Ashes 2021-22 hasn’t pleased the cricket fraternity either as the visitors lost the first two games. Many even reckon the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) should consider sacking Root from the leadership role. Former Australian wicketkeeper-batter Brad Haddin is of the same opinion. He has backed Ben Stokes to replace Root, claiming,“Stokes tactically is the best captain.”

“What they did really well tactically was the fourth morning. Who was off [the field]? Joe Root. Ben Stokes took over and it just looked a lot calmer. He had a plan, the bowlers bowled fuller, he had catching midwickets and short covers. They bowled at the stumps and they challenged Australia. They took four wickets for, I think, under 20 runs and they put Australia under pressure,” said Hayden on Triple M Cricket.

Ben Stokes tactically is the best captain: Brad Haddin

“Root came back on and it all went downhill again. So, to me something’s not quite right. I think Ben Stokes tactically is the best captain. If you look at the first two Test matches, they haven’t got it right,” he added. Haddin also took a dig at Root for planning the blame on bowler after a thumping 275-run defeat in the Day-Night Test.

“He [Root] is involved in the selection committee with the coach and the coach has come out and said ‘we’ve picked the right teams’.Then the bowling coach said ‘you haven’t picked the right teams’ and Joe Root says ‘you’re not bowling the right lengths’,” the 44-year-old stated.

For the unversed, Root was evidently disappointed after his side’s horrendous show in Adelaide. Speaking about where England went wrong, the England skipper stated the bowlers didn’t bowl in right areas. Several members of cricket fraternity slammed Root for his remarks.