Joe Root named new England Test cricket captain

Joe Root has been appointed as England's new Test cricket captain, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced on Monday.

Had been strongly tipped to replace Cook

Yorkshire batsman Root, previously England's vice-captain, had been the overwhelming favourite to take over from Alastair Cook, who resigned as Test skipper last week after a national record 59 matches in charge.

Root, who made his England debut under Cook, is now widely regarded as England's leading batsman.

Captaincy "a huge honour", says Root

"It is a huge honour to be given the England Test captaincy," the 26-year-old Root said in an ECB statement. "I feel privileged, humbled and very excited."

The ECB added all-rounder Ben Stokes would succeed Root as vice-captain of the Test side.

Cook, England's all-time leading Test run-scorer, is set to continue his England career, with Root also able to call upon the experience of senior fast bowlers James Anderson and Stuart Broad, as well as coach Trevor Bayliss.

"We have a very good group of players, and I'm looking forward to leading them out in the summer - building on Alastair's achievements and making the most of our talents in the years ahead," said Root.

"The senior guys in the changing room play a very influential role - and while there's a natural progression for me, it's a huge support to know that they are there to help and advise."

ECB director of England cricket Andrew Strauss, himself a former England captain, added: "Joe is the right man to be our next Test captain and I'm thrilled that he has accepted the role."

Full screen

First match as skipper not until July

Root will have several months to prepare for his first match as captain given England's next Test does not start until 6 July, when they face South Africa at Lord's.

England will be looking to bounce back after a difficult 2016 in Test cricket, with Cook resigning following a 4-0 series defeat in India at the end of last year.

Root has an impressive Test average of nearly 53 in 53 matches. He scored the first of his 11 Test hundreds at Headingley, his Yorkshire home ground, in May 2013 and currently has a total of 4,594 Test runs, placing him third in the International Cricket Council rankings for Test batsmen.

He has become a mainstay of the England side in all three international formats and concerns had been expressed about his workload even before his appointment as Test captain.

Strauss convinced Root the best man for the job

But Strauss was in no doubt Root, whom he said had accepted "immediately" after he was asked to be England captain last week, was the right man for the job.

"Joe has shown a number of admirable qualities in his Test career so far," said Strauss.

"Making his debut in 2012 at the age of 21 and going on to establish himself as one of the premier batsmen in all forms of the game in such a short period of time demonstrates his drive, determination, cricketing intelligence and an ability to learn that will serve him well in his new role.

"He is universally respected by his team mates, passionate about driving the Test team forward and extremely excited about the prospect of leading his country."

Root became a father for the first time last month but flew out days after the birth of his son Alfred to join England on their one-day international tour of India.

He is due to travel again next week when England head to the West Indies for a three-match ODI series.