Joe Root has once again become England's Test captain. He has been reinstated as the regular captain after four years, according to the England Board of Control for Cricket in India.
Joe Root
Joe Root, England's New Test Captain: Following Ben Stokes' international retirement, the England Cricket Board has decided to once again appoint Joe Root as Test captain. Stokes was the regular Test captain, but after a club dispute, he returned and then abruptly announced his retirement. It's worth noting that even before Stokes became captain, Joe Root was leading the Test team. Now, he has been given this responsibility once again.
Previously, Root was England's regular Test captain between 2017 and 2022. During this period, he captained England in 65 Tests. Root holds the record for the most Test captains for England. Under Root's captaincy, England won 27 red-ball matches.
Fleming 🤝 Root
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— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 30, 2026
Joe Root took charge in Ben Stokes' absence during the second Test against New Zealand in June. He has now become the regular captain.
If we look at Root's international career, he has now played 166 Tests, 192 ODIs, and 32 T20 Internationals. In 304 Test innings, Root has scored 14,114 runs at an average of 50.58, including 41 centuries and 67 half-centuries. In 181 ODI innings, Root has scored 7,826 runs at an average of 51.15, including 20 centuries and 48 half-centuries. In 30 T20 International innings, the English player has scored 893 runs at an average of 35.72 and a strike rate of 126.30, including 5 half-centuries.
Stokes and McCullum's partnership is over.
Along with Stokes' appointment as captain, the England board has appointed New Zealand legend Stephen Fleming as the head coach of the Test team. Fleming previously coached the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL. He served as coach for Chennai from 2009 to 2026. He also played as a batsman for Chennai in the inaugural season in 2008. Prior to this, legendary New Zealand batsman Brendon McCullum captained the England Test team. Now, the partnership between coach McCullum and captain Stokes has ended.
