Root in 'very different place' over Test captaincy
Joe Root has been reappointed as England's Test cricket captain, expressing that he is in a much better mental and professional state than during his previous tenure. He will work under new head coach Stephen Fleming, with his first match in this second stint scheduled for August against Pakistan.
Why it matters
The return of a high-profile captain to a national sports team often signals a shift in team culture and strategic direction for the upcoming international season.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Root has scored more than 14,000 runs at 50.58 in 166 Tests for England
England's Joe Root is ready to embrace his second stint as Test captain, saying he is in a "very different place" to when he stepped down from the role four years ago.
First appointed captain in 2017, Root led England in a record 64 Tests and oversaw a record 28 wins as skipper before stepping down in April 2022 following a 10-wicket defeat by West Indies.
At that time, England had won just one of their past 17 Tests, including a 4-0 Ashes humbling away in Australia, while also navigating Covid restrictions, with Root admitting the job "took its toll" on his health.
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