Ashes 2021-22: Joe Root’s captaincy in clear if he can deliver in one area, says Michael Vaughan

Joe Root’s captaincy does come in for some heat from time to time, but former England leader Michael Vaughan says he only needs to worry about one thing.

Test great Michael Vaughan admits question marks about Joe Root’s captaincy are valid, but said the only thing England really needed from him this Ashes is runs.

Ian Chappell has been highly critical of Root refusing to step up and bat himself at No. 3 in the order, and has blasted his captaincy as lacking “imagination.”

Fox Cricket expert Vaughan has acknowledged Root’s shortcomings as tactician, particularly in his reluctance to utilise spin bowling, but said criticism of him for batting at No. 4 in the England line-up was “irrelevant.”

Sport’s greatest rivalry is just around the corner and you can catch the Ashes live and ad-break free during play. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >

Michael Vaughan says if Joe Root can pile on the runs it will be more than a pass mark for the England captain. Picture: AFP

Vaughan said if Root can pile on the runs and have a breakout summer on Australian soil, he will be doing more for England’s chances of producing one of its finest Test match triumphs than any piece of captaincy genius could contribute.

“Runs. Simple as that. The England team need his runs more than anything,” Vaughan told News Corp.

“He’s a respected, captain, leader, well liked in the dressing room. He’s not a shouter he’s very calm and considered. Players like playing for him. But it’s his runs.

“England can’t win the Ashes without Joe Root getting lots of runs. He’s just got to get back the form that he’s shown in the last 12 months.

“Australia is not a place where he’s had a huge amount of success. I’m sure Australia won’t bowl the same lengths that India did in the summer. They’ll bowl a bit fuller and try and bring him forward a lot more. And he’ll know that.

“It’s his runs really that the England team desperately need.”

Vaughan said Chappell had a point about Root’s captaincy, but refuted the situation the world’s No. 1 batsman was not doing the right thing by his troops as captain by not batting higher in such an inexperienced top order.

“I don’t buy into this from people who say they have to bat at No. 3 I just don’t buy it. Steve Smith bats at 4. Virat Kohli bats at 4. So what’s the problem with Joe Root batting at 4? It’s the position where over the last year he’s had the best year he’s ever had,” said Vaughan.

“He’s playing fantastic, his batting position is not an issue. He bats at no. 4 and does it brilliantly. You could argue that Chappy has it right about his captaincy. At times he’s had his captaincy questioned because he’s got tactics wrong … you’re within your rights to question Joe’s tactics at times but his batting position is an irrelevant conversation. A lot of the great players bat at 4 in this era.”

Root and Stuart Broad during a training session at the Gabba. Picture: AFP

If Joe Root wins this Ashes will it be one of the great achievements by an England captain?

“It would be. He doesn’t really have any pace (in the bowling attack). He’s got a batting unit with only one averaging above 40.

“Not many of that top seven that have a real prominent Test batting average, which generally you need three, four or five of the top seven who average over 40 or 45 to win in Australia,” said Vaughan.

“England can be very, very competitive if the ball moves. If the ball moves around they’re going to be competitive without any question. If the ball doesn’t move around it’s going to be very difficult for them.

“Winning in Australia, it just doesn’t happen that often. Look at the history of the game, it shows how rarely England come to Australia and win.

“I think both teams are vulnerable but I’d say England are just a little bit more vulnerable than Australia.”

Vaughan says England need to go with Jack Leach in Brisbane. Picture: Getty Images

Should England play spinner Jack Leach or go with a five-man pace attack?

“This is the one element of Joe Root’s captaincy and you could genuinely question tactically where he’s got it wrong is spin,” Vaughan said.

“He’s just not been willing to use spin enough. In a five-man attack you have to have a variation of slow bowling, you have to. Jack Leach, particularly in Brisbane where he can get a bit of bounce and the spinners have success there — I’d be amazed. Not surprised because England haven’t played a spinner all year but they have to go with a spinner in my opinion.”

Broad bowls during a net training session at the Gabba. Picture: AFP

Will Stuart Broad play?

“The rumours are Broad (could miss out) but I can’t believe Broad isn’t going to play in Brisbane.

“On the back of what he did to David Warner and Marcus Harris around the wicket in the last Ashes, you’d think Stuart Broad is certainly going to play.

“I would say it’d be Mark Wood maybe that would miss out, but I’m not there, I’ve not seen the conditions.”