English captain Joe Root has sensationally been tipped to stand down from his captaincy duties at the end of the Ashes series.
The 30-year-old Yorkshire-born batsman became skipper of the English side in February of 2017, but a tough 2021 where he has been the lone light for England seems to have taken its toll.
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Root, who has scored more than 1700 runs for the calendar year, has been unable to guide England to a successful record, losing two series against India, a home series against New Zealand and now the Ashes since February.
The lean run for England has led former English bowler Jonathan Agnew to suggest Root may stand down from the role of captain, telling the BBC that he would be surprised he doesn't resign.
"I would be surprised if Joe Root continues as captain," Agnew said.
"I saw a very tired figure down there just now."
While Root refused to be drawn into speculation regarding his future, instead saying he and the team would focus on Sydney, the English cricket team's horror 2021 is showing no signs of transformation.
Root has come under plenty of scrutiny throughout the series, as have the team selectors, with the decision to not play either Stuart Broad or James Anderson in Brisbane followed up by not playing a spinner in Adelaide.
The Boxing Day Test saw England capitulate for just 68 as they went down by an innings.
