Breaking! Joe Root steps down as England Test Captain

In a major update, English cricketer Joe Root has stepped down as the team's Test captain. This came shortly after England's humiliating 1-0 loss against the West Indies in West Indies. Root took over the reins of the England team from Alastair Cook in 2017. Since then, he captained England in 64 games, winning 27, losing 26 and drawing 11. 

However, things have gone downhill for the England Test team in the past year and a half. They lost 3-1 against India in India, then lost two of the four games against Kohli-men in England. Currently, India leads the series 2-1, with the final scheduled to be played in July this year. In the meantime, England also lost the series against New Zealand at home by 1-0, and the Ashes played in Australia by a margin of 4-0.

Post the Ashes series, Ashley Giles stepped down as the team's managing director. Head coach, Chris Silverwood, was then sacked from his position. Eventually, Graham Thorpe also resigned from his post as the assistant coach. England's misery can be understood by the fact that the team has only managed to win two out of their last 18 games. 

Speaking of his decision to step down, Root said that this was the most challenging decision of his career. He also said that he discussed this with his family and felt the time was right to step down from this position.

"After returning from the Caribbean tour and having time to reflect, I have decided to step down as England Men's Test Captain. It has been the most challenging decision I have had to make in my career but having discussed this with my family and those closest to me; I know the timing is right," Root said in a statement released by the English Cricket Board (ECB) on Friday.

"I am immensely proud to have captained my country and will look back on the past five years with enormous pride. It has been an honour to have done the job and to have been a custodian of what is the pinnacle of English cricket.

"I have loved leading my country, but recently it's hit home how much of a toll it has taken on me and the impact it has had on me away from the game," he added.