Joe Root is set to be reappointed as England’s Test captain with his second stint in the role potentially to extend through to next summer’s home series against Australia.
England’s search for a new captain in the wake of the international retirement of Ben Stokes looks certain to end with what has appeared their only real choice — a second spell in charge for Root. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) are set to announce that Root will captain the team for the three-Test series against Pakistan that begins on August 19 and beyond, most likely taking in next year’s Ashes.
That would then allow the only viable alternative, Stokes’ vice-captain Harry Brook, to carry on as white-ball captain in the build-up to next year’s 50-over World Cup and continue working with the T20 and one-day international coach, Brendon McCullum, with whom he has already developed a strong relationship.
The only question then would be who will replace the sacked McCullum as Test coach, with England increasingly likely to buy themselves time by asking assistant Marcus Trescothick to take over on an interim basis against Pakistan.
Joe Root stood in for Ben Stokes for the second Test at the Oval against New Zealand earlier this summer (Philip Brown/Getty Images)
The ECB have faced a testing month since the chaotic end to their first Test assignment of the summer against New Zealand left them needing a new captain and a new coach. Stokes retired during the third Test of the series, which was lost 2-1, with the decision then made to replace McCullum after four years as red-ball coach.
They asked Root to stand-in for the second Test against New Zealand after Stokes was suspended for the late-night drinking session in Chelsea after the first Test that sparked turmoil in English cricket, and have quickly decided he is their only realistic choice now on a longer-term basis.
The only question was whether England’s best player and record Test run scorer was prepared to put himself through another spell in the hot-seat after saying he was finished with captaincy once his first spell in charge ended in 2022 with a dismal run of one win in 17 Tests. But, according to sources familiar with the situation who have been granted anonymity to protect relationships, Root’s sense of duty and selflessness meant he was never going to say no in England’s latest hour of need.
Root actually enjoyed being back in charge at the Oval last month even though he was dealt the toughest of hands having to lead a side against New Zealand that included three Test debutants and two other players with only one appearance each.
He never looked the most natural leader during his five years in charge after replacing Alastair Cook in 2017. He leads more by example and good man-management rather than tactical acumen, but he did have to deal with the most difficult circumstances during the Covid-19 pandemic and still led England to more wins, 27 in 65 Tests, than any other captain. Defeat to New Zealand at the Oval last month meant he has suffered an equal number of losses in charge.
Now Root, who is currently competing in The Hundred with the Welsh Fire, will have the chance to restore stability against a weak-looking Pakistan side after England’s turbulent year which began with one of the worst of all their Ashes drubbings and continued with their first defeat in a major home series since 2012.
His mission will become tougher this winter with series in South Africa and Bangladesh and the one-off 150th anniversary Test against Australia in Melbourne. But even if those assignments end in defeat, it still looks certain Root will be in charge against Australia next summer while Brook continues to mature and develop as a captain in the less hostile white-ball environment alongside McCullum.
Harry Brook (left) is developing a strong relationship with Brendon McCullum (Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty Images)
There was no way England could have turned to Brook at the Oval given his involvement in the late-night incident in Wellington last winter that led to a £30,000 fine and a final warning and created all the attention on England’s nocturnal habits in the first place.
In truth, the same reasoning applies now while it would also be too much to expect Brook to be captain in all formats because of the hectic cricketing calendar — even though he has turned his back on the franchise world to concentrate on his international career.
The most logical move now is to leave him where he is, thriving under McCullum, at least until the end of the 50-over World Cup in South Africa, by which time he could be ready to succeed Root and possibly hand over the white-ball captaincy to Jacob Bethell.
The coaching situation became more complicated once England’s first choice, Andy Flower, ruled himself out of taking over from McCullum to carry on with his franchise commitments — primarily with Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League and London Spirit in The Hundred — that have established him as the most successful coach in world cricket.
The ECB have been talking to other candidates this week but do not want to rush their decision when, other than three Tests against Pakistan, they have time to ensure they can put the right person in place ahead of their visit to South Africa in December.
Marcus Trescothick is expected to take on an interim role as England’s Test coach for the Pakistan series (Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
Sources close to the situation have told The Athletic there is still a slight chance of an appointment prior to the Pakistan series, but it is far more likely that former England batter and long-time assistant coach Trescothick will stand in for the games at Headingley, Lord’s and Edgbaston.
He could also have one of the leading English candidates for the job, Glamorgan coach Richard Dawson, alongside him to gain experience in the role with a view to taking over in the long term or even in time to face South Africa.
The former Australia coach Justin Langer is not under consideration, with the former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming perhaps now the leading choice if England do not turn to the home-grown option of Dawson.
