By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
@GettyImages.
Ben Stokes has been named England Test captain, taking over from Joe Root.
All-rounder Stokes, 30, has scored 5,061 runs and taken 174 wickets in 79 Tests and had been vice-captain across two spells since 2017.
Batter Root, 31, stepped down after five years in charge earlier this month, having led England in a record 64 Tests.
“I am honoured to be given the chance to lead the England Test team,” said Stokes.
“This is a real privilege, and I’m excited about getting started this summer.”
Stokes’ first Test as permanent England captain will be against world champions New Zealand at Lord’s on 2 June.
He previously captained England in the first Test defeat by West Indies in 2020 when Root missed the match to attend the birth of his second child.
“I want to thank Joe Root for everything he has done for English cricket and for always being a great ambassador for the sport all across the world,” added Stokes.
“He has been a massive part of my development as a leader in the dressing room, and he will continue to be a key ally for me in this role.”
Stokes was appointed captain by new managing director of England men’s cricket Rob Key, in his first major act in the role.
“I had no hesitation in offering the role of Test captain to Ben,” said Key.
“He epitomises the mentality and approach we want to take this team forward into the next era of red-ball cricket.
“I am delighted that he has accepted, and he is ready for the added responsibility and the honour. He thoroughly deserves the opportunity.”
Meanwhile, the England and Wales Cricket Board has placed a job advertisement which confirms two head coaches will be appointed, one for Test cricket and another for the limited-overs formats.
England previously had two separate head coaches between 2012 and 2014, with Andy Flower at the helm for red-ball cricket and Ashley Giles in charge of the white-ball sides.
Chris Silverwood departed as England head coach after the 4-0 Ashes thrashing this winter, with Paul Collingwood taking charge on an interim basis for the 1-0 Test series defeat in the West Indies in March.
The job advert says the new head coaches will “play a central role in selecting the team for their respective format alongside a national selection panel.”
The role of national selector was previously abolished in 2021 with Ed Smith leaving the ECB and then-coach Silverwood charged with heading up player selection.
The deadline for applications for the head coach roles is May 6 with first-stage interviews set to take place on May 9 and 10.
Former India and South Africa head coach Gary Kirsten – who was interviewed by England in 2019 ahead of Silverwood’s appointment – and ex-Surrey, Sri Lanka and Ireland coach Graham Ford – who Key worked under at Kent – have expressed their interest.
Kirsten said recently he would be keen to coach England in Test cricket.
Former Australia batter Simon Katich is also in contention.
The 46-year-old, who lives in England, has extensive knowledge of county cricket after stints as a player with Lancashire, Yorkshire, Hampshire, Durham and Derbyshire.
Like Kirsten, Katich is a current coach in The Hundred – he coaches Manchester Originals while Kirsten is with Welsh Fire – and has experience coaching in the Indian Premier League.