‘We’re blessed to have Joe Root’ - England selector explains Test captaincy decision

Joe Root has been named England Test captain on Thursday, July 31, 2026, marking his return to the role after stepping down in 2022. The appointment comes ahead of England's three-match home series against Pakistan starting in August 2026. Root's selection as skipper means Harry Brook, who currently leads England in white-ball formats, will not take on the Test captaincy at this time.

England selector Marcus North outlined the reasoning behind the decision to appoint Root over Brook. He stated that Brook remains an important part of the team and his leadership in white-ball cricket continues to develop with each series. England's T20 side reached the number one ranking in the world during the summer of 2026, demonstrating Brook's impact in that format.

"I think Harry Brook has obviously been a fantastic player for us across all three formats. He remains an incredibly important part of the team. I think his leadership in the white ball is maturing with every series. We've seen that through our T20 side getting to the No. 1 ranking in the world during the summer," North said.

Despite that, North made it clear that Brook has not been ruled out as England's future Test captain. He said he has no doubt Brook's time will come, but believes England are fortunate to have an experienced leader like Root available to guide the Test side during this period.

"So, you know, doing a fantastic job there with an eye on the World Cup at the back end of next year, working with Brendan McCullum. You know, that's a key focus. And doing all three formats is a huge ask for any captain." North said.

"I have no doubt that the time will come for Harry, but we're very blessed that we've got someone like Joe, who's so experienced and is going to do such a great job this time around with Harry and Brendan working in the white ball space." he added.