Joe Root gets Chris Woakes' backing

Chris Woakes has backed under-fire Joe Root (in pic) to become a "great England captain" despite this winter's Ashes travails. Root has come in for some stinging criticism from former Australia captain Ricky Ponting since England's innings defeat in Perth handed the urn back to the hosts.

Joe Root

Ponting depicted a leader who needs to "step up big time", who looks like a "little boy" and who does not have the respect of his team. Asked in a BBC interview about Ponting's comments on Root, Woakes said: "The way he goes about his business shows he has got what it takes to be a great England captain. He's got the full backing from the team."

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