Ben Stokes has been named as England’s captain for the first #raisethebat Test against the West Indies at The Ageas Bowl next week.
England Test captain Joe Root will leave the training camp at the Ageas Bowl on Wednesday afternoon to be with his wife, Carrie, who is expecting their second child later this week.
He will miss England’s three-day intra-squad warm-up match starting tomorrow and the #raisethebat first Test against West Indies commencing on Wednesday 8 July at the Ageas Bowl.
Root will commence a seven-day self-isolation period at home once he leaves hospital with his family. He will join up with the England squad ahead of the second Test at Emirates Old Trafford on Monday 13 July.
All-rounder Ben Stokes, who has been Root’s Test vice-captain since his appointment last July, will captain the side for the first time in Southampton. Lancashire’s Jos Buttler will assume vice-captaincy duties.
Stokes spoke to the media during yesterday’s ECB press conference, in which he spoke about the opportunity to captain England.
“Even if it’s only the once you can still say: ‘Yeah, I’ve captained England.
“So, it’s a huge honour to think about, and something I’m really looking forward to if the opportunity presents itself, but also at the same time I know I’m only stepping in to take over the reins for the one game because of Joe’s personal situation.
“I’d like to think that I’d be quite an open captain and wouldn’t want to just think that my way is the only way, because necessarily I don’t think that is the best way to operate.”