England’s veteran Test leader Joe Root has stepped back into the captain’s role, insisting he feels "as ready as any other England captain" and has no intention of discarding the Bazball philosophy that has defined the side’s recent approach. Root, who has now captained England a record 65 times, first led the team from 2017 until 2022, a tenure that concluded with a disappointing run of just one victory in 17 Tests before Ben Stokes took over alongside head coach Brendon McCullum.
After a promising start to the Bazball era, England suffered a 2‑1 series loss to New Zealand earlier this summer. The defeat coincided with Stokes announcing his retirement from international cricket at the conclusion of the final Test, and it also precipitated the dismissal of McCullum as the red‑ball head coach. In the wake of those upheavals, Root addressed the media ahead of the three‑match series against Pakistan, which begins on Wednesday at Headingley.
He stressed that the changes required are incremental rather than revolutionary. "I don’t think there’s a huge amount we need to change. It’s the small things that will make a big difference," Root said.
"It’s not about ripping it up; it’s about keeping a lot of the good stuff we’ve been doing for a period of time, the things Ben and Baz built over a long while." Root went on to explain that there is no single formula for Test cricket. "You have to be adaptable and play the situation. The five‑day game is never the same; there are different challenges on each day, and you need to adjust to the ebbs and flows throughout," he added.
Regarding his own readiness, the 35‑year‑old made it clear that his time away from the captaincy has left him well‑prepared for the task. "The landscape is different now, and I’m a different player and person than I was when I first took over as captain," he reflected.
"I’m fortunate to have 60‑odd games of experience to draw on. There are things I might want to change and do slightly differently, but having stepped away, played under a different coach and captain, and seen the game from another perspective, I feel as ready as any England captain before me." Root expressed genuine excitement about the upcoming match at his home ground.
"I’m really excited, and to start at Headingley is always nice," he said. "We have a very talented group capable of achieving special things, and I’m thrilled about where we can take this team." The white‑ball skipper Harry Brook, who serves as Test vice‑captain, was passed over for the captaincy in Stokes’ absence during the second Test against New Zealand at The Oval, and the same decision applies to the permanent role now that Stokes has retired. Root confirmed that Brook will remain the number‑two in the Test side and praised the strong bond between them. "Our relationship is exactly as it has been for a long time.
Harry and I are good friends off the field and we get the best out of each other on it," Root said. "He’s been hugely supportive, and I fully feel he’s got my back, as do the rest of the guys. He’s already done brilliant things in the white‑ball arena and is a natural leader within the group." When asked about life without Stokes, Root acknowledged the magnitude of the void.
"He’s been ever‑present for the best part of 15 years. It’s a big gap to fill," he admitted. "We’ve only been together as a full team for a day and a half since his departure, so it feels different." On the prospect of returning to the side himself for a future home Ashes series, potentially in 2027, Root was non‑committal.
"Who knows? That’s a question for Ben," he said, referring to the coach. "We need to focus on the here and now, and that’s this series." Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam was ruled out of the series opener after sustaining a finger injury. He first suffered a blow to his right hand against the West Indies earlier in the month and then another impact from England Under‑19 pacer Manny Lumsden in a tour match at Beckenham.
Although medical scans cleared him of a fracture, swelling remained, and the Pakistan board decided he would not lead the side at Headingley. Coach Sarfaraz Ahmed announced that Salman Ali Agha would take the captaincy for the first Test.
"Babar Azam is not available, Salman will be captain," Ahmed said. "It’s not broken, there’s a little swelling.
Hopefully he will be available for the second Test." Babar’s absence is a significant loss for Pakistan, not only because he is the on‑field leader but also because he is one of the team’s most prolific batsmen, boasting nine Test centuries and a career average of 43.68. With Babar sidelined, the selectors are expected to call up Saud Shakeel, who missed the West Indies series, to bolster the batting lineup.
Sky Sports reporter James Cole summed up the situation for England: "It’s old shoes for Joe Root; he’s got all the experience behind him and he seemed relaxed. He is inheriting a big rebuilding job. England have lost seven of their last ten Tests, they’ve lost head coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes, who was the cornerstone of the Bazball brand." Cole noted that England’s current lineup faces several challenges. The middle order lost Stokes, who provided balance between bat and ball, and the side now includes newcomer Emilio Gay, who has only three Test caps and is currently out of form, as well as rookie Jordan Cox, who has batted at number three just once.
In Stokes’ place, all‑rounder Dan Lawrence has been recalled, offering a spin‑bowling option, but he has not played a Test in two years. Despite the hurdles, Cole believes Root is up for the challenge. The first Test between England and Pakistan will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event, with the first ball scheduled for 11 a.m.
local time. Fans can also stream the match via the NOW platform and follow additional cricket coverage through the Sky Sports app and podcasts.