Root steps down

It feels a bit inevitable that Stokes will land the job. Broad and Anderson have both hinted that he's the only real candidate and I don't get the vibe that anyone thinks it's a good idea to bring someone in especially to be captain.

Stokes set to be named Test Captain

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/61163496

Stokes confirmed as captain. A good choice in many ways but it seems a heavy workload for him especially with the difficulties he has had.

https://www.ecb.co.uk/england/men/news/2594085/ben-stokes-named-england-mens-test-captain

The only choice really. Harmison was saying we need to protect him so move him down to 6 but I don't think that makes a difference given our batting problems.

Nothing will really change though unless the batting improves. Even if a captaincy burden relieved Root averages 70+ for the summer, we need more from the rest. Perhaps Stokes will turn to Root more than he turned to himself.

If we can not find any openers, any spinners, or any fast bowlers that don't fall apart if they are asked to bowl more than a handful of openers then it doesn't matter who is captain, we will lose.
Our team is shocking.

Indeed, this is exactly why I think Root was harshly judged as a captain. Amongst all the covid stuff and bubbles and trying to rotate for player welfare etc, he hasn't always had his best team and even our best team isn't good enough.

I don't blame him for stepping down though, he had been captain for a long time but hopefully Stokes can count on Root as much as Root had to count on Stokes to deliver match winning performances and carry members of the team who aren't contributing.

Emile. Going back through the ages we have tried this kinda captain before? First with Botham and then with Flintoff. Both regarded as amongst the worst captains we have ever had.
If we can't score 200 runs, of which Root gets most of them on his own, no captain is going to lead this England team to victory.
That said, I am looking forward to seeing what Ben Stokes does, and let's hope we can start winning again.

I don't think we should write Stokes off because Botham and Flintoff had bad stints as captaincy. I actually think Stokes could make a very good captain. He seems like a good thinker and is a very good batter who plays the game situation rather than just coming out and giving it a whack.

However good a captain he is though, if we are reliant on him, Jimmy, Broad and co bailing out the batting unit then we will struggle. Getting 3 batsmen in the top 4 averaging over 40 with Root at 50 would be a useful start. I think Parkinson may well get the nod over Leach too, whether he is good enough, we will find out.

I can see young Brook at Yorkshire getting a test call up, he has been in the runs so far this County season including an impressive 194 today

Harry Brook and Ben Compton have both started the season in brilliant form. I guess the question is do you look to get both in whilst they are scoring runs or do you leave them alone this year and assess where they are next summer?