'A retrograde step' - Butcher criticises Root's return as England captain

Mark Butcher has criticised the decision to reappoint Joe Root as England captain, describing his return to the position as "a retrograde step" for the Test side.

Root returns to the role having already overseen a record number of Tests as England skipper

England confirm Joe Root to return as Test captain, while Stephen Fleming replaces Brendon McCullum as coach.

Fleming, 53, takes charge of an England side looking to rebuild after a decline in results and a series of off-field incidents that led to McCullum's dismissal. New Zealander McCullum remains coach of England's white-ball teams.

Fleming succeeds Brendon McCullum as Root chosen over Harry Brook to replace Ben Stokes

The 53-year-old has signed a four-year deal to replace Brendon McCullum.

4 min readJul 30, 2026 03:40 PM IST Stephen Fleming head coach of Team Chennai Super Kings during post match press meet after Match 37 of the TATA Indian Premier League 2026 between Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, India, on April 26, 2026. (CREIMAS) England on Thursday announc

New Zealander will take over for South Africa series Trescothick named interim coach for Pakistan Tests Stephen Fleming has been confirmed as the new coach of the England men’s Test team, with Joe Root returning for a second spell as captain. Marcus Trescothick will take interim charge for the three-game series again

Stephen Fleming has been named the new England test coach with Joe Root as captain

30 Jul 2026 05:48PM (Updated: 30 Jul 2026 05:50PM) July 30 : England named Joe Root as test captain and appointed former New Zealand batter Stephen Fleming as head coach on Thursday following the departures of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum.Root, 35, led the side in 64 tests from 2017 to 2022."It is a great honour and

Former CSK coach to take over before South Africa tour, with Marcus Trescothick filling in on interim basis for Pakistan Tests next month

The ex New Zealand international replaces his compatriot Brendon McCullum and will be in charge for the tour of South Africa later this year

Former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming is appointed as England Test coach, with Joe Root as captain.

Joe Root is to return as England Test captain, replacing Ben Stokes, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced.