Joe Root returns as England men's Test cricket captain, replacing Ben Stokes, while Stephen Fleming becomes coach

Joe Root is to return as England Test captain, replacing Ben Stokes, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced.

He will work alongside New Zealand's Stephen Fleming, who's been named England Test head coach.

Fleming, 53, takes over from fellow Kiwi, Brendon McCullum, who was sacked from his Test role two weeks ago.

Root, 35, already holds the record for captaining England men as Test captain - having led the team 65 times from 2017 to 2022, recording 27 wins.

He took on the role on a temporary basis after Stokes quit in the middle of the Test match against New Zealand last month.

The Yorkshireman will begin his latest stint when England take on Pakistan next month.

Stephen Fleming is also New Zealand's longest-serving and most successful Test captain.

Root called it a "great honour and privilege" to resume the role full-time, saying the chance to work with Fleming was "a huge motivator.

"He [Fleming] has proved over a long period of time that he is an exceptional leader with a great knowledge of the game, and I am looking forward to working with him and helping to build a winning environment."

Fleming said he was "incredibly excited" to take what he called "one of the most prestigious coaching positions in world cricket".

Calling Root a "generational talent", he said there was "still plenty more to come from him, and I'm excited to support him so he can enjoy and thrive in the role in what is a different context to his first stint.

"I know what it feels like to have the weight of leadership and international cricket take their toll, and when that happened to me, my love for the game was rekindled by going to Notts and winning the County Championship. English cricket gave that to me and it is a privilege to have this chance to give something back."

Rob Key, the managing director of England Men's Cricket, described Fleming as "one of the most highly respected figures in cricket".

Root, he said, would "get the opportunity to lead free from the COVID-19 restrictions that the Test team faced at the end of his first stint as captain.

"Joe is undoubtedly an England great and he is passionate about leading this team into a new era."

England lost their most recent test series, 2-1 to New Zealand, their first series since the winter's 4-1 defeat in the Ashes in Australia.

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(c) Sky News 2026: Joe Root returns as England men's Test cricket captain, replacing Ben Stokes, while Stephen Fleming becomes coach