Three Players who can replace Joe Root as England’s Test Captain
Joe Root (image source : Twiter)
Joe Root has been leading the English team since 2017 after Alastair Cook stepped down from the role. In his tenure England won 27 of their 61 Tests, making him the most successful skipper for England in Tests. But after a defeat in the West Indies series following a humiliating 4-0 defeat in the Ashes series. Root ultimately announced his decision to step down from the role today, on the 15th of April, 2022. As Root is no longer England’s test captain, they will be searching for an apt candidate to fill his shoes. Here are three players who can replace Root as England’s Test captain.
1. Ben Stokes: Ben Stokes made his debut for England in the Tests in 2013 against Australia at Adelaide. Since then, he has played 79 Tests for England and has been an integral part of the team. He has scored 5061 runs at an average of 35.9 and has picked up 174 wickets at a bowling average of 32.1. Stokes has also scored 11 centuries and has picked up 4 five-wicket hauls. Not only is he an important part of the team, but he is also already an integral member of the think tank. He seems to be the most ideal replacement for Joe Root.
2. Jonny Bairstow: Jonny Bairstow is an attacking batter who opens for England in the ODIs. But in the longest format of the game, he plays in the middle order. He has scored 4801 runs in 83 Tests at an average of 34.53. In the recently concluded West Indies series he was the second-highest run-scorer for his team with 226 runs. But his experience in leading a team is limited in both the international and domestic arena. This might be a factor that might not make the selectors not think of as the next captain, however, if Stokes declines the role, Bairstow could be a good choice.
3. Jos Buttler: Jos Buttler is a global T20 Star at present. But as far as Test cricket is concerned things have not been going well for him. His poor show in the home series against India led the selectors to drop him from the squad for the West Indies series.
He has played 57 tests for England scoring 2907 runs in them at an average of 32. He also captained England in eight ODIs winning five of them and is also the vice-captain of the T20 team. He is definitely one of the prime contenders for the role of England’s test captaincy.
