NZ vs ENG | Unfortunately Joe Root has to cop the criticism for entire team’s poor showing, says Ben Stokes

2019 has not been a good year for Root, neither as captain of the England Test side nor as a batsman. Having contributed just 13 runs at Mount Maunganui, not only did he lose his place in the top 10 of the ICC’s Test rankings for batsmen, but questions over Root's position as captain have also resurfaced.

"The pressures of being England Test captain is huge. It can be one of the most criticised jobs in England at times. And sometimes that criticism is unfair, I would say. There are 11 guys that contribute to a win or loss. It doesn't all fall on the captain. We put our hands up as players when we don't perform. But, unfortunately, Joe cops most of that . He's fine. He's Joe Root. He is England captain and there's no one else to do it," Stokes said, reported Sportstar.

"Joe knows that he's got the backing of everybody in the changing room: players, backroom staff and management. That's the main thing that counts for us as players in a very tight-knit group. He knows that everybody in that changing room 100 per cent backs him, as I do," he added. 

Another major talking point after the opening Test was the alleged racist abuse that England bowler Jofra Archer revealed he suffered from a spectator. New Zealand Cricket (NZC) launched an investigation and captain Kane Williamson promised to apologise in person to young Archer. Stokes — who has New Zealand and Maori heritage — described the incident as "pretty horrific" but said that the country cannot be represented by the lone racist.

"I'm obviously very proud of my heritage and where I'm from. It wasn't a nice way to end the Test match and it's a shame because that doesn't represent what New Zealand is about as a country whatsoever. New Zealand is more accurately represented by how much support Jofra has had, not just from the New Zealand cricket team, but New Zealand in general after that incident,” he said.

"That's the main thing for us now: making Jofra aware that we've got his back. It was a pretty horrific incident and something that shouldn't happen in sport or in the world in general in 2019," Stokes concluded.