Joe Root is set to be named England’s new Test captain © AFP
Joe Root has been named as England’s Test captain, succeeding Alastair Cook, who last week stepped down after four years in the job.
Root, 25, had been the frontrunner to follow Cook in the Test role, having been made vice-captain in 2015. He met with Andrew Strauss, England’s director of cricket, last week and was offered the job over the weekend but will have to wait five months for his first outing as captain, when England host South Africa in July.
There were few serious alternatives to Root, who has emerged as England’s star batsman since making his debut under Cook in 2012. Ben Stokes has been confirmed as Root’s new vice-captain.
“It is a huge honour to be given the England Test captaincy,” Root said. “I feel privileged, humbled and very excited.
“We have a very good group of players and I’m looking forward to leading them out in the summer, building on Alastair’s achievements and making the most of our talents in the years ahead. The senior guys in the changing room play a very influential role and whilst there’s a natural progression for me it’s a huge support to know that they are there to help and advise.”
Root inherits a talented side from Cook but one that has, in its previous captain’s words, “stagnated” over recent months. England lost eight of the 17 Tests they played in 2016, including six of the most recent eight. Cook admitted a “new voice” was required in the dressing room.
While Root has little captaincy experience – he has led for only four first-class games – he is respected by his peers as a senior player and has been the team’s vice-captain for almost two years. It would have been a major surprise had he not been appointed. Broad, one potential candidate for the position, described Root as “ideal” for the role, while Stokes has previously suggested he harboured few captaincy aspirations. “You have to be boring like Cooky if you want to be captain,” he said when asked about the role on the recent tour of India.
There may also be some concerns over Root’s workload. As a key batsman in all three formats of the game – and as a new father – the demands on his time and energy are already substantial. But he can point to the example of Virat Kohli, in particular, and argue that the increased responsibility may improve his individual performance.
Root will have some time to settle into his new role. England do not play Test cricket again until July, with a four-match series against South Africa and three-match series against West Indies providing time for Root to shape his new team before an Ashes tour towards the end of the year.
His relationship with the coach, Trevor Bayliss, may prove crucial. While Cook and Bayliss did not always appear to be in unison over England’s style of play, it is anticipated that Root will adopt a bolder, more aggressive approach that may be more to Bayliss’ liking.
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo