Root is highly likely to become England’s next Test captain

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Joe Root,  Stuart Broad and Ben Stokes met with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Thursday about filling the role as Test captain.

The trio spoke with director of cricket Andrew Strauss about the position, which was made vacant after Alastair Cook resigned on Monday.

It is understood that Root, Broad and Stokes were not interviewed, but were in fact involved in less formal talks about their vision going forward should they he handed the reins.

Cook’s successor is set to be named next week, but Root is considered to be the frontrunner to replace him as he has served as vice-captain for the last 18 months.

But, while Cook conceded that Root was “an outstanding candidate”, he pointed out that other players could be in contention for the job.

“Joe has got a very, very good cricket brain, he’s part of a newer generation and he’s a very good cricketer and he demands respect in the changing room because of that,” Cook told Sky Sports earlier this week. “I think he’d be an outstanding candidate.

“I also think that – and this is slightly more left-field in one sense – Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow would probably come into consideration because of their standing in the dressing room and just looking at the way they operate, and the way they drive other things in the changing room as well is very special. I’m really looking forward to seeing how the new side evolves.”

Whoever becomes England’s next Test captain will have some time to chart out a route for the future as England’s next Test match will be against South Africa in the first week of July.