Ben Stokes has rejected the prospect of replacing Joe Root as England’s Test captain.
Root’s 1708 Test runs in 2021 were the third-most over a calendar year by any batsman in the history of the game.
However, with little support - the next-highest run-scorer was Rory Burns on 530 - Root’s captaincy is under a cloud.
Mistakes at the toss in Brisbane and Adelaide, and public differences with his fast bowlers have compounded to undermine his leadership.
Root has even been held responsible for selection, which is solely the remit of coach Chris Silverwood.
The 31-year-old will on Wednesday become the longest-serving captain of the England Test team, and break Sir Alastair Cook’s record of 59 matches in charge.
He has piloted England to three consecutive Ashes series without victory, including a tied series at home in 2019.
There is mounting pressure to step down, including from former England captains Geoffrey Boycott and Michael Atherton.
“Joe Root has (ECB chief executive Tom) Harrison’s backing and the ECB will try to persuade Root to carry on after Sydney,” Atherton wrote in The Times.
“They shouldn’t. Root has been a good England captain, and has always carried himself superbly and is an incredible ambassador for the sport, but having done the job for five years and having had three cracks at the Ashes, including two awful campaigns in Australia, it is time for someone else to have a go.
“There have been so many errors here, from selection to strategy, that the captain has to bear personal responsibility. For all the discussion around systemic change, this could have been a much closer series had Root got things right on the field. These errors have made a good Australian side look much better than they are.”
However Root has the broad support of his teammates, including the man touted as his replacement.
“I've never really had an ambition to be a captain,” Stokes told reporters two days out from the fourth Test.
“That's totally Joe's decision. He shouldn't be forced into doing it.
“Obviously this series hasn't gone too well - not from a captaincy point of view, but from a team and results point of view.
“Unfortunately, the captain and coach bear the scrutiny for that, but there are 10 other guys out there in the field beside the captain.”
Root has set the example with the bat for the last 12 months, and publicly implored his team to get into the trenches with him.
They have still let him down with bat, ball and gloves all summer, but he has the trust and respect of his contemporaries.
“Captaincy is more than about setting fields, picking the team, making decisions out there in the middle,” Stokes went on.
“A captain is someone you want to go out and play for. Joe Root is someone I always want to play for.”
Stokes is the tourists’ vice-captain, and filled in for Root for one Test in 2020 when England hosted the West Indies at Southampton.
The 30-year-old also led the one-day international team to a 3-0 series win over Pakistan in July last year.
“I'm sure Cooky felt the same way,” Stokes went on, having played under the former captain as he grew jaded with the scrutiny.
“He did it for so long, and when he knew his time was up, his time was up (but) those discussions haven't been entered anywhere near Joe.
“I don't sense that at all with Joe. He's brought this team a long way. He's done some great things.”
The fourth Ashes Test will commence on Wednesday at the SCG, with Silverwood, Australian batsman Travis Head and several support staff to miss having tested positive for COVID-19.