Root told to quit as England captain by Boycott – “Stop treating us as idiots”

Geoffrey Boycott has called for England captain Joe Root to step down in the wake of his side’s Ashes defeat to Australia

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Root accepts England need wholesale changes after Ashes defeat

Former England opener Geoffrey Boycott has called on Joe Root to step down as captain after his side were humiliated by Australia in the Ashes.

Boycott took aim at Root for insisting ahead of the third Test that Australia are ‘not much better’ than England, before going on to lose by an innings and 14-runs in Melbourne.

The 81-year-old accused Root of “trying to kid us” and “treating us ex-players and cricket supporters as idiots”, before criticising his captaincy for ‘lacking imagination’.

In his latest column for the Telegraph, Boycott said: “Now Australia are 3-0 up and the Ashes have gone, will Root please stop saying Australia are not much better than us?

“I don’t mind him living in cuckoo land but stop trying to kid us. If he really believes what he says then maybe it is time he gave up the captaincy of the England cricket team.

“The facts are staring us all in the face, except Joe doesn’t want to see it. England can’t bat. Our bowling is ordinary. The catching, particularly by the wicket keeper Buttler, has been poor.

“Joe’s captaincy lacks imagination. His team selection and decision making has been staggeringly off the mark.

“Many of us are tired of these interviews where Joe says England will learn from a bad day or Joe says he expects a response after a poor performance.

“We have had enough of this rubbish. Stop treating us ex-players and cricket supporters as idiots.”

Before the series began, Root admitted the Ashes would “define my captaincy” and Boycott believes he must step down at the end of the series.

He added: “At the end of this series the question should be asked: would England benefit from a change of captain?

“That’s not me trying to be hurtful to Joe or just being controversial. We all love Joe. It is impossible not to like him, but before the squad left the UK Joe said players and captains are defined by Ashes series, particularly in Australia.

” So far this series we have been dreadful and if Joe believes what he has been saying then it is time for someone else to be given the opportunity to try and galvanise the players.

“Captains accept the accolades when their team wins so they have to accept some blame or criticism when they lose.

“And let’s be honest – we haven’t just lost, we have been smashed.”