Joe Root reveals real reason why he agreed to become England captain again

Joe Root said Stephen Fleming’s appointment as England’s test coach was a “big reason” he agreed to ​return as captain of the squad. Root replaced Ben Stokes ‌after the all-rounder retired following the home series ​against New Zealand.

Fleming succeeds compatriot Brendon McCullum, ⁠whose four-year test tenure ended last month, though he remains England’s white-ball coach.

“If I’m being brutally honest, it was a big ‌reason why I wanted to do it,” Root told the ECB.

“I’m very ‌excited by the way he sees the game, ‌where ⁠he sees us sit as a team, and ⁠the work that we have to do to get to where we want to get to. All of that got me very excited ​about taking this role ‌on.”

“He’s obviously got a wealth of experience and done some amazing things within the game as a player and as a coach, and I’m very much looking ‌forward to the next little while, and us ​trying to build something pretty special together.”

RELATED | Root set to not ‘rip up’ England’s Bazball blueprint

Former New Zealand captain Fleming coached Chennai Super ⁠Kings for 17 years in the Indian Premier League before leaving last month.

Root led England as their full-time test ‌captain between 2017 and 2022 before Stokes replaced him. Stokes and McCullum championed a take-no-prisoners approach, which endeared them to the fans, and Root hinted he and Fleming would like to retain that attacking mindset.

“I’ve taken a lot from ⁠that, and I feel it will be a big part of how I want to approach ‌things moving forward as a leader of this team.” England host Pakistan for a three-test series beginning ​in Leeds on August 19.

Published on Aug 02, 2026