Joe Root Poised for England Test Captaincy Return Ahead of Pakistan Series

Joe Root is reportedly set to reclaim his position as the captain of England's Test cricket team. Following the retirement of Ben Stokes, Root, who is recognized as England's leading run-scorer in Test matches, is expected to take the helm once again. The English cricket team is preparing for a three-match Test series against Pakistan next month, and sources indicate that Root will be at the forefront of this challenge. Furthermore, there are indications that his leadership role could extend through to the highly anticipated Ashes series scheduled for next year on home soil.

Root's previous tenure as captain spanned from 2017 to 2022, a period during which he faced significant challenges, including a series of disappointing outcomes that ultimately led to his resignation. Despite stepping down, Root briefly returned to captain the team during the second Test against New Zealand in June 2026, although that match ended in a disheartening defeat for England. In the wake of Stokes' unexpected retirement from international cricket last month, Harry Brook, the captain of England's white-ball team, was initially considered the frontrunner to take over the Test captaincy. However, recent reports from The Athletic suggest that the England cricket board has opted to reinstate Root as the leader of the Test squad.