Joe Root has been appointed as England’s Test captain by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), after the exit of Ben Stokes. According to The Athletic, Root has been recalled as the first-choice Test leader by the ECB. He is expected to lead England in the three-match Test series against Pakistan that starts on 19 August. He could also lead the team in the next year’s Ashes.
The new series marks Stokes’ retirement from international cricket. Stokes laid down his bat and ball after England’s recent Test series win against New Zealand. He played as the captain of England’s side for the past four years with the help of former head coach Brendon McCullum. Together, they reinvented England’s limited-overs and List A culture during the ‘Bazball’ era. They won thrilling Test series victories against New Zealand, Pakistan, and South Africa.
Joe Root’s experience gives England a reliable leader
Joe Root, who has captained England in 64 Tests since first leading the side in 2017, fell short of emulating his predecessor’s record, which is unlikely to be equaled given his limited remaining years at the top. After posting a fine 27 wins in his two-year reign, which was largely spent on challenging away tours in Australia and the Caribbean, he laid down his captaincy baton. Since then, the 35-year-old has continued to produce extraordinary performances with the bat, passing Sir Alastair Cook as England’s leading Test run-scorer and placing himself among the all-time Test players of the world in terms of aggregates.
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In addition, the Yorkshire man has recently demonstrated his leadership qualities by standing in as captain for the second Test against New Zealand, in which he replaced Stokes, who was under investigation for a disciplinary breach. It is reported that Joe Root’s actions during the match convinced the ECB that he was the right man to lead the team.
While Root is expected to serve as the first-choice captain for the short term, it is believed that the position will eventually go to Harry Brook. The vice-captain is seen by the ECB as a likely candidate for the future, but they are eager to let him grow more confident in the role before naming him as the first-choice leader.
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