Report: Joe Root set for England Test captaincy return against Pakistan, second stint could extend to 2027 Ashes
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KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Joe Root is set to be reappointed as England's Test captain from the Pakistan series.
- His second stint could extend through to next summer's home Ashes against Australia.
- Marcus Trescothick is expected to serve as interim coach at Headingley, Lord's and Edgbaston.
Joe Root set for England Test captaincy return against Pakistan
England have endured one of the most chaotic months in their recent history. Ben Stokes retired from international cricket during a 2-1 home defeat by New Zealand, Brendon McCullum was sacked as Test coach days later, and Andy Flower ruled himself out of replacing him.
Now the search for a captain appears settled. According to a report by The Athletic, Joe Root is set to be reappointed as England's Test captain, beginning with the three-match series against Pakistan that starts at Headingley on August 19.
The NY Times report suggests the second stint could stretch considerably further than that. Root is expected to remain in charge beyond the winter tours of South Africa and Bangladesh, most likely taking in next summer's home Ashes against Australia.
Why England turned back to Root
The appointment ends a search that never really had another candidate. Root stood in for Stokes during the second Test at the Oval last month, after the captain was suspended following a late-night drinking session in Chelsea, and quickly emerged as the only realistic option. The genuine uncertainty concerned Root himself.
England's record Test run-scorer had said he was finished with captaincy after his first spell ended in 2022 with one win in 17 matches, a run that visibly weighed on his batting. According to sources cited by The Athletic, his sense of duty meant he was never likely to refuse.
Root reportedly enjoyed the Oval assignment despite leading a side containing three debutants, and his overall record remains strong with 27 wins from 65 Tests. The decision also protects Harry Brook. The vice-captain would have been the alternative, but his involvement in the Wellington incident that brought a £30,000 fine, combined with the workload of leading in all formats, ruled him out.
Brook will instead continue as white-ball captain under McCullum, who retains those roles until after the 2027 World Cup. The report suggests he could succeed Root after that tournament, potentially handing the white-ball job to Jacob Bethell.
The coaching question remains unresolved
While the captaincy appears settled, the coaching vacancy is proving considerably harder to fill. Flower's withdrawal, driven by his commitments with Royal Challengers Bengaluru and London Spirit, left the ECB without its first choice.
The board is reportedly reluctant to rush, with only the Pakistan series before a longer break ahead of December's tour of South Africa. Marcus Trescothick, the long-serving assistant coach, is expected to take charge on an interim basis for the three home Tests.
Glamorgan coach Richard Dawson could work alongside him with a view to taking the job permanently. Justin Langer is reportedly not under consideration, leaving Stephen Fleming as the leading overseas candidate should England look beyond Dawson.
Root is a sensible appointment but will it affect his batting?
Root is the right call for one straightforward reason. England needs stability more than anything else, and a captain who has done the job for five years, knows the dressing room and carries universal respect provides exactly that.
The concern is what it says about English cricket's depth. Turning to a 35-year-old who publicly walked away from captaincy four years ago is not a plan; it is a holding pattern, and it exists because Stokes retired and Brook was compromised. There is also the matter of Root's batting.
His finest years came after relinquishing the captaincy in 2022, and England will need him scoring heavily against Australia next summer rather than shouldering the burden that flattened him last time.
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