England Test great Joe Root is set to return as the team’s Test captain following Ben Stokes’ retirement, according to reports in the English media.
England will host Pakistan in a three-match Test series next month, and Root is expected to lead the side in that series. Reports also suggest he could continue as captain until the Ashes at home next year.
How England performed under Root's captaincy?
Root previously captained England’s Test team from 2017 to 2022 before stepping down after a difficult run of results. Earlier this year, he returned as stand-in captain for the second Test against New Zealand in June 2026 when Stokes was unavailable, but England suffered a heavy defeat.
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After Stokes announced his surprise retirement from international cricket last month, many expected white-ball captain Harry Brook to take over the Test team. However, according to The Athletic, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has decided to hand the role back to Root instead.
The report also said former England opener Marcus Trescothick is likely to be named interim head coach for the Pakistan Test series.
Root is England’s most experienced Test captain. He has led the team in 65 Test matches since taking charge in 2017. During that period, England won 27 matches, lost 27 and drew 11.
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He also holds several captaincy records for England. No other player has led the team in more Test matches, and he has the highest number of both Test wins and Test defeats by an England captain.
With the bat, Root enjoyed great success during his time as captain. In 65 Tests as skipper, he scored 5,418 runs, the most by any England captain in Test cricket. His tally includes 14 centuries and 27 half-centuries.