Root steps down as English captain after slump in form

Joe Root has described his decision to step down as England's Test captain as his "most challenging" but conceded it recently hit home how much of a toll the role had taken on him.

The 31-year-old resigns with a number of favourable records, but a disastrous 12 months of red-ball cricket essentially made his position untenable.

A recent 1-0 series defeat in the West Indies extended England's winless run to five series, which included heavy losses away to India and Australia, and has seen the country taste victory only once in their last 17 Test matches.

Days after an all-too familiar capitulation in Grenada, Root highlighted the "positives" of the tour but has now brought his five-year tenure to an end in a move that could signal the beginning of the much-discussed red-ball reset.

Root, who will continue as a batter, said: "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.

"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."

Root took over as captain from Sir Alastair Cook in 2017 and while he oversaw a disappointing 4-0 loss Down Under, his side bounced back to thrash India at home the following year before they closed it out with victory in Sri Lanka.

Months after 50-over World Cup glory in the summer of 2019, the Yorkshire batter