Former England batter Mark Butcher expressed his disappointment after Joe Root was re-appointed as England captain following Ben Stokes’ retirement. Butcher said it doesn’t make sense to go back to Root, under whose captaincy England managed a solitary win in 17 Test matches.

Root led England from 2017 to 2022, leading the team to 27 wins, as many losses and 11 draws in 65 matches.

However, Butcher reckons Root could have served as a loyal lieutenant to Harry Brook or whoever the selectors would have backed. The former left-hander reckons Root was able to get the best out of himself as a batter under Stokes’ leadership.

“Ben Stokes, Brendon McCullum, Rob Key were the reaction to Joe Root’s captaincy the first time around,” Butcher told Sky Sports.

“This revolutionising of the way we play Test match cricket came off the back of 17 Test matches with only one victory under Joe.

“The best thing that happened to him and his game was not being captain any more. His batting since has been on a different level, and I rather hoped it would stay that way, and he would be a loyal lieutenant to Harry Brook or whoever they decided was going to get the job on a permanent basis.”

On the other hand, former England skipper Michael Atherton reckons appointing Joe Root as captain is a better decision than handing over the captaincy duties to Harry Brook.

“Root’s limitations were revealed in the Test against New Zealand at the Oval last month, when it didn’t take long for his usual equanimity to disappear,” Atherton wrote in the Times.

“But needs must, and Root was never likely to turn down the opportunity to help out.

“While Root’s appointment is not ideal, it is a better outcome than having Brook at the helm,” he added.

England will take on Pakistan in a three-match Test series, starting August 19.