Joe Root steps down as England Test captain: One of the most challenging decisions I have had to make

Joe Root quit as Englnd's Test captain on Friday, saying it's the right time to step down from the top job. England have endured a horror run in the longest format of the game, losing the Ashes 4-0 and losing in West Indies 1-0.

Joe Root on Friday stepped down as England's Test captain, bringing an end to a topsy-turvy stint that began when he replaced Sir Alastair Cook in 2017. Root end his tenure as the most successful England Test captain in their celebrated history but the Three Lions had been struggling to notch up victories on a consistent basis home and away under the World No. 4 Test batter.

ECB haven't yet named 31-year-old Root's replacement as England's Test captain but Ben Stokes is the front runner for the role.

Joe Root's decision comes after England were hammered 0-4 by Australia in the Ashes earlier this year Down Under and 0-1 against West Indies in a recently-completed tour of the Caribbean. In the aftermath of the 10-wicket defeat in the 3rd Test in Grenada, Root had said he wanted to carry on and lead England out of the slump but the Test batting star seems to have had a change of mind.

England managed just one victory in their last 17 Tests, which led to the sacking of several members of the management and support staff, including former England team director Ashley Giles and head coach Chris Silverwood.

However, several former cricketers backed Root to continue as captain, saying he was the right man for the high-pressure role.

"After returning from the Caribbean tour and having time to reflect, 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," Root said in a statement from the ECB."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," he said.

Root holds the record for the most number of matches and wins as England Men's Test captain. His 27 victories put him ahead of Michael Vaughan (26), Sir Alastair Cook, and Sir Andrew Strauss (24 each).