England vs New Zealand: Joe Root to captain on 'game-by-game basis' but is 'envious' of Ben Stokes

Joe Root averaged 46.44 with the bat as England Test captain - down on his career average of 50.73 Joe Root says he is taking the England Test captaincy on a "game-by-game basis" but admits he has been "slightly envious" of Ben Stokes for getting to work alongside Brendon McCullum. Root, who led England in a record 64 Tests between 2017 and 2022, will make a remarkable return to the role in Wednesday's second Test against New Zealand following Ben Stokes' involvement in an incident in a London nightclub. The 35-year-old said he is in a "very different place" to when he gave up the captaincy, since which he has played solely as a batter under Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum. "I have really enjoyed the last couple of days working with Baz in a slightly different space," Root said. "That is one thing, in a small way, in a good way - I was slightly envious of that opportunity to work with someone like Baz in this sort of capacity. "It has been really cool the last couple of days." McCullum worried for Stokes, no captaincy backing Stokes in good spirits - Durham boss Campbell Baker and Cox to make Test debuts at The Oval Stokes, a close friend of Root's, was left out of England's squa