Joe Root, the lynchpin of English batting line-up, was named the new Test captain of the team. The news comes days after Alastair Cook stepped down from the post. While the move was expected, the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Monday officially confirmed the news through a statement.
Colin Graves, Chairman of the ECB, approved the appointments following the recommendation of the selectors under the guidance of Director of England Cricket Andrew Strauss. “Joe Root is the perfect choice for England Test captain," said Graves. "I’m delighted that he has accepted the role and will now help to take the team to the next level. The role of Test captain is an honour and a responsibility which he thoroughly deserves. When I spoke to him you could feel the excitement and sense the pride – he can’t wait to get started.
“Joe is a fine player and a fine person who has the respect of the players, the selectors and all at the ECB. He also has a changing room with experienced players and leaders who will support him from the start. The role of Test captain is an honour and a responsibility which he thoroughly deserves. Joe has maturity beyond his years and having seen him develop at Yorkshire over the last 10 years I know his qualities well.
“I offer my congratulations to Joe for becoming Test captain and, once again, my thanks to Alastair Cook for the way he has developed the team, the timing of his decision and the platform he has given his successor.”
Joe Root made his Test debut in December 2012 and was named vice-captain to Alastair Cook in summer 2015. He scored the first of his 11 Test centuries at Headingley in May 2013 and currently has a total of 4,594 Test runs at an average of 52.80, placing him third in the ICC rankings for Test batsmen.
Meanwhile the ECB said all-rounder Ben Stokes would succeed Root as vice-captain of the Test side. Cook, England's all-time leading Test run-scorer, is set to continue his international career and could play under Root during the 201718 Ashes in Australia, as well as this year's home series against South Africa and the West Indies. Root will also be able to call upon the experience of new-ball duo James Anderson and Stuart Broad, as well as coach Trevor Bayliss.
Root, who has little in the way of senior leadership experience behind him, will have several months to prepare for his first match as captain, with England's next Test not starting until July 6, when they face South Africa at Lord's. England will be looking to bounce back after a difficult 2016 in Test cricket, with Cook resigning following a 4-0 series defeat in India at the end of last year.
Prior to the South Africa series, England's programme will consist solely of limited overs fixtures, including June's Champions Trophy ODI tournament on home soil. Last week, Strauss made it clear he wanted Eoin Morgan to remain as England's ODI captain.
