England top order batsman Joe Root, who’s in India for the limited-overs series said he is ready to take the new challenge as a Test skipper when current long format skipper Alastair Cook will decide to step down from his throne.
“I’d like to think so. I’ve got a lot of experience behind me now in Test cricket, and I feel that I would have something to offer. But hopefully it won’t come to that. Cooky’s a great leader. We’ll see what happens,” said Root when he was asked about the Test captaincy.
Cook has faced the severe criticism following the drubbing of 4-0 against India in the five-match Anthony De Mello Test series which concluded in December last year.
“I’ve spoken to Cooky a couple of times but it’s been about how the baby is doing and whether we needed any help so he’s been good in that respect,” Root added.
The 32-year-old left-handed opening batsman Cook has been sitting on the Test throne since past five years after succeeding his former teammate Andrew Strauss, who is now director of cricket for England.
Earlier, the cricket pundits had stated that the 26-year-old Root, who had been highest run-scorer for England in the recently concluded Test series against England, is the ideal replacement for Cook as the Test leader.
“I’m clueless as to what’s going on and I just hope he makes a decision he’s happy with. He needs space,” Root further added.
Cook is not expected to make a big call any time soon before meeting Strauss on Friday. England is scheduled to play Test series against South Africa in July.
“As a player I really would like to see him continue as captain because he’s a great leader and he can take this team forward,” Root said on Cook.
The Yorkshire-born right-handed batsman Root has played 53 Tests for England in which he scored 4,594 runs at an average of 52.80. He smashed 11 hundreds and 27 half-centuries.