Cricketing world welcomes Joe Root as the new England captain

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) recently named Joe Root as the new England Test captain. The appointment came in after former skipper Alastair Cook stepped down from the position on 6th February. The ECB Director, Andrew Strauss, was quick to offer the post to the best batsman of the line-up. Root accepted the request and the official announcement came in soon. While Root takes up the leadership, it is his deputy Ben Stokes who has taken up the role the former held previously, something that will also see his leadership put to the test.

Colin Graves, the chief of the England and Wales Cricket Board went ahead and confirmed the naming of the skipper. “Joe Root is the perfect choice for England Test captain. I’m delighted that he has accepted the role and will now help to take the team to the next level,” quoted Graves.

Graves also went on to add that being the Test captain of such a side required he likes of Root to find himself in a role that he definitely deserves. “The role of Test captain is an honour and a responsibility which he thoroughly deserves. Joe has maturity beyond his years and having seen him develop at Yorkshire over the last ten years I know his qualities well.”

Colin Graves also went ahead and announced that Ben Stokes, the fiery all-rounder will certainly be filling in the role that has been vacated by Joe Root and has also subsequently been named as the vice-captain for the same.

“I’m also delighted that Ben Stokes will take over from Joe as vice captain of the team. He has real presence and influence within the team environment that serve as a great source of support for Joe. I have no doubts that the responsibility will also help Ben to continue his rapid rise as a world class all-rounder,” he mentioned about Ben Stokes.

Certainly Joe Root will have big shoes to fill considering the good Test record of Alastair Cook. His first assignment as Test skipper will be in July this year at home against South Africa. England are scheduled to host South Africa for a 4-match Test series. While that remains to be seen as how he would fare up, the Twitter world was pleased at his appointment.

Here are the reactions of the Twitterati: