Harry Brook says Joe Root is “definitely the right man“ to captain England’s Test team, who face Pakistan in a three-match series starting on Wednesday, August 19.
The ‘Bazball’ era came to an end after the conclusion of a Test series defeat to New Zealand on home soil, with former skipper Ben Stokes retiring from international cricket and head coach Brendon McCullum being relieved of his red-ball role to focus on his white-ball coaching duties.
Brook is the white-ball captain and was promoted to vice-captain of the Test team in September 2025.
But the ECB and Rob Key plumped for the experience of Root when it came to deciding who would succeed Stokes, while Stephen Fleming is the head coach of the England Test team.
Root faces a tough test against Pakistan – but he has received the full backing of fellow Yorkshireman Brook in the lead-up to the first Test at Headingley on Wednesday.
England vs Pakistan Test series
First Test, Headingley: Wednesday, August 19 – Sunday, August 23
Second Test, Lord’s: Thursday, August 27 – Monday, August 31
Third Test, Edgbaston: Wednesday, September 9 – Sunday, September 13
Brook, 26, told BBC Sport: “The decision to make Rooty captain is the right one.
“I’m actually really excited to see what he can do. He’s definitely the right man to take over that job.
“I’m really looking forward to working alongside him.”
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Focused on winning cricket games
He added: “There is the potential I could be captain, but at this moment in time all I’m focusing on is trying to win a few games of cricket.
“I will be 1,000 per cent behind Rooty and I’m really looking forward to what this Test side can do.”
Root has scrapped the team curfew placed on the players – and that decision has been hailed by former England captain and Sky Sports pundit Nasser Hussain.
‘Nothing good happens with curfews’
He told the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast: “You’ve lost the team if you’ve got a curfew. You’ve got no control over your team.
“There’s nothing good that happens with curfews because someone will end up breaking it.
“Just treat people like grown ups, and if they don’t behave like grown ups, then the first thing you do is fine them, and then the second thing you do is leave them out.
“A professional sporting outfit shouldn’t need a curfew, and it just shows how bad a place they were in that a curfew was put in.
“I’m really pleased that Joe has said ‘no, enough of that nonsense.'”
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