- Blinken condemns China's 'increasingly dangerous' sea moves
- Toyota returns to Formula One as Haas partner
- EU chief says China must 'adapt its behaviour' to solve trade row
- Musk unveils robotaxi, pledges it 'before 2027'
- Lynx rally, stun Liberty in overtime in WNBA Finals opener
- Pogacar hunting 'perfect' season finale with Coppi's Il Lombardia record
- 'Soul of old Baghdad': city centre sees timid revival
- Kittle at the double as Niners hold off Seahawks
- At least 11 dead in Florida but Hurricane Milton not as bad as feared
- Yankees advance in MLB playoffs as Guardians stay alive
- Asian markets mixed after Wall St drop, Shanghai dips before briefing
- Automaker Stellantis says CEO will retire in 2026
- Musk's promised robotaxi unveil delayed
- Kamada says Japan can close in on World Cup place against Australia
- On US coast, wind power foes embrace 'Save the Whales' argument
- Renewables revolt in Sardinia, Italy's coal-fired island
- Argentina held, Brazil leave it late in 2026 World Cup qualifiers
- Obama blasts 'crazy' Trump in first rally for Harris
- 2024 Nobel Peace Prize, a plea in favour of world order?
- Fry homers as Guardians down Tigers to stay alive in MLB playoffs
- Japan PM presses China's Li on airspace intrusion
- In Trump 'Truths,' conspiracies, attacks -- and doubts about the election
- How Sebastian Stan found a 'relatable' Trump for 'The Apprentice' biopic
- Panama's water wheel trash collector keeps plastic at bay
- It's still 'the economy, stupid,' says US political guru Carville
- Five key dates in the history of the America's Cup
- Zelensky to meet Pope, Scholz as whirlwind Europe tour ends
- At least 10 dead in Florida but Hurricane Milton not as bad as feared
- Far from eye, Hurricane Milton's deadly tornados rampaged Florida
- At least 10 dead in Florida after Hurricane Milton spawns tornadoes
- Argentina held, Bolivia stun Colombia in 2026 qualifiers
- Socceroos have 'nothing to fear' from Japan
- Sean 'Diddy' Combs sex trafficking trial set for May 2025
- Bolivia stun Colombia in World Cup qualifiers
- Internet Archive reels from 'catastrophic' cyberattack, data breach
- Greece earn late win against England in Nations League, Italy-Belgium stalemate
- Trump biopic 'The Apprentice' hits US theaters weeks before election
- Pavlidis dedicates 'special' Greece win over England to tragic Baldock
- Wall Street stocks retreat from records on US inflation data
- 'Like a quake': Beirut shaken after deadliest strikes on centre
- Fallen giants Ghana in AFCON trouble after Sudan draw
- Asian leaders meet in Laos with US, Russia on world turmoil
- England gamble backfires as Pavlidis fires emotional Greece to victory
- Obama stumps for Harris, Trump talks US protectionism
- New-look France ease past Israel in Nations League
- Belgium fight back to draw with 10-man Italy in Nations League
- 'Get a life': Hurricane whips up US election storm
- Japan stay perfect in World Cup qualifying
- Relief as Lebanon evacuees dock in Turkey
- Lebanon says 22 dead in Israeli strikes on central Beirut
Root should step down as England captain, Vaughan says
Joe Root should step down as England Test captain following his side's series loss to the West Indies, former skipper Michael Vaughan told the BBC.
Root's position is under the spotlight after a 1-0 series defeat which came on the back of a woeful 4-0 Ashes thrashing by Australia.
That extended England's poor run to four successive Test series defeats.
The 31-year-old Yorkshire star batter has skippered England in a record 64 Tests, winning 27 games -- more than any other captain -- but lost 26, which is also more than any other captain.
Vaughan, who captained England 51 times from 2003-08, has known Root for many years but says it is better to have Root in the side without the burden of the captaincy.
"He's taken it as far as he possibly can," Vaughan told the BBC.
"If he rings me in the next week and asks for some advice I'll be dead honest -- I'd tell him to step down.
"Will England be any worse off not having him as a captain? I don't think they would, because they are going to get his runs and a senior player."
Vaughan said he would prefer it if Root, who has expressed his desire to remain captain, resigned rather than was fired by the future permanent director of cricket and the head coach.
- 'Hasn't been helped at all' -
Former captain Andrew Strauss and Paul Collingwood are filling the roles of director of cricket and coach respectively following the departures of Ashley Giles and Chris Silverwood prior to the West Indies series.
"I wouldn't want the new director of cricket or head coach to sack him -- he's deserved the right to go on his own ground," said Vaughan.
"During his reign I don't think he has been helped at all.
"His first Ashes series there was the Ben Stokes incident (a late night fracas outside a Bristol bar), then we had the white-ball reset, then he's had Covid and it's been very difficult.
"But, I always think captains should pride themselves on maximising every ounce of potential in the changing room.
"I just look at the team and ask 'Why did they perform so under their potential?' That would be a real concern for me."
Vaughan says Root has lacked a clinical touch when it has come to matches that are delicately poised.
"Tactically he has been poor," said Vaughan.
"It has been a common trend under Joe -- he hasn't managed to grab a game. If he does carry on he'll really need someone who can drive the tactical side of the game with him."
However, Root did receive support from England's record wicket-taker James Anderson, who along with long-time team-mate and fellow opening bowler Stuart Broad were controversially omitted from the West Indies tour.
"If you get the right people in those two jobs above him then he can still do a really good job."
Vaughan was returning to the BBC for the first time since being dropped from its Ashes commentary team after allegations of racism made by Azeem Rafiq.
The 47-year-old categorically denies the accusation he said there were "too many of you lot, we need to do something about it" to four Yorkshire players of Asian origin in 2009.
The allegation was corroborated by two of the others in question -- Adil Rashid and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan.
P.Mathewson--AMWN