Earlier today, Joe Root stepped down as the skipper of the England Test Team. Root had succeeded Alaistair Cook and had started off well. However, in recent months, his captaincy has been subjected to criticism. While they lost the Ashes without winning a game, there was a further disappointment after they lost the Test series to West Indies. The change was on the cards and Root has now submitted his resignation. Root captained his team for 64 games and managed to earn 27 victories. On that note, in this article, we take a look at two players who can replace Joe Root as captain of England’s Test Team.
1) Ben Stokes
The name that instantly comes to mind after the stepping down of Joe Root is that of Ben Stokes. The England Test Team is undergoing a massive transition and there are very few players who have cemented their spot in the XI. Being a premier all-rounder, Ben Stokes is the second name on the playing XI after Joe Root. Hence, with Root stepping aside, Stokes is the next best option.
The all-rounder has been a vice-captain and even led a game back in 2020. While he is an obvious choice, there would be concerns because Stokes is an all-format cricketer. His recent form has not been spectacular and he has only just come from a break. Tasking an important player with a tough responsibility could hamper his performance. Hence, England might also not appoint Stokes as the skipper.
2) Jonny Bairstow
Jonny Bairstow is one of the players who can replace Joe Root as captain of England’s Test Team. In recent months, Bairstow has been one of the positives in the batting line-up. He got hundreds in both Australia and West Indies. The player is in good form and is certain to have a spot in the playing XI.
If Stokes is not appointed, Bairstow is one player who could have an outside chance. However, the cricketer does not boast of captaincy experience. He has led in T20 cricket for his franchise and that’s about it. It is a risky move but it needs to be seen if the management will consider it because he is the only other player who is a confirmed starter apart from Root and Stokes.
