Joe Root He will return as England Test captain, with his second spell in charge likely to last until next summer’s home Ashes series against Australia, The Athletic reported on Friday.England looking for new Test captain Ben StokesRoot’s retirement from international cricket appears to be coming to an end as he returns to action.According to The Athletic, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is expected to announce Root as captain for the three-match Test series against Pakistan starting from August 19, with the appointment likely to be carried over to next year’s Ashes Cup.This move will allow Harry BrookeStokes, his deputy in Tests, remains England white-ball captain ahead of next year’s 50-over World Cup and continues to work with T20 and one-day international coach Brendon McCullum.England are still looking for a new Test coach after parting ways with McCullum in the red ball. According to The Athletic, assistant coach Marcus Trescothick is increasingly expected to take charge of the Pakistan series on an interim basis.The ECB face a difficult month after England’s first Test duty of the summer against New Zealand ended, leaving the team in need of a new captain and a new Test coach.Stokes announced his retirement in the third Test of the series, which England lost 2-1. Soon after, the ECB also decided to replace McCullum, who had been Test coach for four years.Root has been captained for the second Test against New Zealand after Stokes was suspended following a late-night drinking spree at Chelsea after the first Test, an incident that caused further problems for English cricket.That experience appears to have convinced the ECB that Rutte remains the best choice for the job.The only uncertainty is whether Root, England’s top Test run-scorer, wants to return to the captaincy when his first term ends in 2022, saying he is done with it. He resigned after England managed just one win in 17 Test matches.Root, who is now playing for Wales Flames in the Hundred, will once again lead England as the team looks to bounce back from a tough year, starting with the Pakistan series.England started their 2026 campaign with a 4-1 Ashes win in Australia before losing at home to New Zealand, their first home series defeat since 2012.
