Joe Root backs Alastair Cook

Mumbai: Amid the speculations over Alastair Cook's career as England skipper in Test Cricket, Joe Root jumped in his teammate's support saying he expects the left-handed batsman to continue for a few more years.

The doubts over his captaincy started doing rounds after he, talking to a leading sports magazine, said that he wasn’t sure how long he was going to continue.

His statement created a stir in the England cricket and he, clarifying his words before the beginning of the Rajkot Test between India and England, claimed that he was executing the job of skipper on a series-by-series basis.

However, the speculations intensified after England went 2-0 behind in the five match series against India with two matches to go.

The 25-year-old Root said that he hasn’t seen any signs of his team’s captain mulling on the idea of giving up the job. He also claimed that the team’s batsmen were responsible for their defeat in the Vizag and Mohali Tests.

"I think he is coping all right," Root said of Cook.

"He's a true professional and you don’t really get much from him in that respect. I imagine it must be quite tough being away from a new child and family and everything.

He refused to accept the defeats as Cook's mistake as he believed that his team's batsmen were to be blamed for the same.

"People are blaming Cook for the defeats but actually it was the responsibility of the batsmen to ensure a big total on the scoreboard. You can blame whoever you want, but we need to take responsibility for our bad," said Root.

The fourth Test between India and England would be played at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai from December 8.