England's Ben Stokes named skipper for first Test against West Indies in Joe Root's absence
London/IBNS: England all-rounder Ben Stokes will captain the side for the first time next week as Joe Root will miss the first Test against West Indies, England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed.
Test skipper 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," read the statement.
"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," it said.
Jos Buttler will assume vice-captaincy duties in the match.
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
