Joe Root set to return as England captain, to lead till Ashes

England’s highest run getter in tests and former captain, Joe Root has emerged as the leading candidate to become the Test captain ahead of the Pakistan series, which begins next month from August 19. This will be Root’s second spell as the team skipper, and as a report from The Athletic, he is likely to lead the team through the next summer until the Ashes at home.

The England team management has been looking for a new Test captain following Ben Stokes’ retirement from international cricket last month, and now their search seems to be coming to an end with Root returning to wear the skipper’s hat.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is expected to make the announcement soon before the start of the three-test match series against Pakistan. This move would allow Harry Brook, who was Stokes’ deputy, to continue as England’s captain in the white ball formats of the game until the ODI World Cup scheduled for next year.

ECB’s search for a new head coach in Tests continues and the board decided to part ways with Brendon McCullum. As per The Athletic report, assistant coach Marcus Trescothick is most likely to take charge on the interim basis for England’s next assignment with Pakistan.

Ben Stokes had announced his retirement last month during the third match of the series against New Zealand, which they lost 1-2. Soon after, the ECB decided to sack McCullum as the head coach, who was in the role for four years.

Root had already stepped in as the skipper for the second test against New Zealand after Stokes was suspended for breaching the team’s late night curfew rules and getting involved in a brawl. Root’s experience as the skipper and his prolific form in the tests appears to be the main reason for the ECB to appoint him as the captain.

Root is currently playing in The Hundred with Welsh Fire and he will be keen to get England back to winning ways in Tests after they have had a difficult year in the Test format far, including a 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia earlier this year.