Joe Root news: Darren Gough goes to bat for former England Test captain

In hindsight, the writing had been on the wall for some time for Root despite his determination to battle through tough times.

A woeful and, many would argue unacceptable, return for one of the biggest and most popular cricket unions in the world.

"I think he's done a good job. I really do. He leads from the front. He's a strong personality. Everybody thinks he's this relaxed, fun-loving guy, which he is. But he's also a strong leader," Gough said.

"I've been in that dressing room environment in New Zealand. He is hugely respected by every single player and coaching staff. And he was the perfect man for the job."

"You're only as good as your players. You can be as good a captain as you want," Gough said.

"Go down England's last 20 hundreds and it's Root, Root, Root, Root, Root. He's got about 17 of them! That's how important he is to the team."

"I was surprised by the criticism. I think you have to look deeper than that. With everything that has been going on in English Cricket, I don't think you can blame the captain," he said.