Chris Woakes backs Joe Root to lead England beyond Ashes humiliation

Root is one of several individuals in leading positions of authority whose position is being questioned after series defeat by Australia was confirmed within just 12 days of gametime

Joe Root has the support of the England dressing room to remain as captain in the wake of the ongoing Ashes debacle.

Root is one of several individuals in leading positions of authority whose position is being questioned after series defeat by Australia was confirmed within just 12 days of gametime.

However, the Yorkshireman - who has now presided over both the most Test wins and losses of any England skipper - is understood to have indicated to the team's management that he wants to stay on in the role, both until the end of this series and into the new year.

And, according to Chris Woakes, the players are also keen to see the 30-year-old retain the responsibilities.

^{Joe Root has been backed to continue as England captain (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)}

Asked whether Root should stay in the job, Woakes said: "Absolutely. It's clear that the captaincy isn't having an effect on his batting, which a lot of the time with captains can be the case.

"It would be great if we could help him out and score a few more runs around him.

"But Joe is a great cricketer. He's got a great cricket brain. I think his record as England captain is pretty good. It definitely feels like Joe will continue."

The total lack of suitable successors to Root does suggest that he will remain in place when heads start to roll for a campaign which is being widely ridiculed.

Head coach Chris Silverwood is perhaps most at risk.

Woakes was coy when questioned about the coach's future, however.

"Who am I to talk about people's futures other than my own, to be brutally honest," he said.

"We've got two really important games coming up. We want to show a lot of character, a lot of fight. We want to put some pride back into wearing that badge.

^{Chris Woakes says Root is the right man to lead England (Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)}

"The group of players, the management and the staff we have out here have the backing of the players to hopefully put things right."

The task facing Silverwood and Root ahead of games in Sydney and Hobart is considerable.

Not only do they have to raise the spirits of a deflated side, but they must also refocus minds on the rigours of three more weeks away from home at the end of a long year of touring and bubbles, and figure out how to salvage some sort of consolation from an abject series.

"We're 3-0 down after three games, so of course I can understand that," he said. "In a way, it's good that they are angry, because it means they still see this as the pinnacle of the game. There's no one here that doesn't, either.

"We're desperate to put in strong performances. It's just that we haven't. When confidence is low in an Ashes series, and Australia are on top in their conditions, it can be extremely tough."

Our coverage of the Ashes is brought to you in association with Cricket 22

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Joe Root tells England management he wants to stay on as captain

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