England
captain Joe Root has come under fire for his team’s performance in the ongoing Ashes
series. With the visitors battered by the Australians in both Tests so far,
experts and fans are fearing another whitewash for the Three Lions.

While
Root has been performing consistently with the bat, he has been criticised for his
decisions during the losses in Brisbane and Adelaide. And former Australian
wicketkeeper Brad Haddin thinks England have a better candidate to lead the
side in Ben Stokes, saying he “tactically is the best captain”.

Haddin
said England’s best phase of the second Test came on Day 4, when Root went off
the field and Stokes took over as captain.

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“What
they did really well tactically was the fourth morning. Who was off [the
field]? Joe Root. Ben Stokes took over and it just looked a lot more calm. He
had a plan, the bowlers bowled fuller, he had catching midwickets and short
covers,” Haddin said on Triple M Cricket.

“They
bowled at the stumps and they challenged Australia. They took four wickets for,
I think, under 20 runs and they put Australia under pressure. Root came back on
and it all went downhill again. So, to me something’s not quite right. I think
Ben Stokes tactically is the best captain. If you look at the first two Test
matches, they haven’t got it right,” he added.

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Earlier,
former Australian captain Ricky Ponting criticised Root for his leadership,
saying he should know when and how to use his bowlers. Ponting’s comments came
after Root said they did not bowl the right lengths to Australia, making it easier
for the home side to score freely.

Meanwhile,
Steve Smith – who led Australia in the second Test in the absence of regular
skipper Pat Cummins – defended Root, saying, “sometimes as a captain you get
out-played by the opposition and there’s not a great deal you can do”.

The
third Ashes Test will be played in Melbourne from December 26 to 30.