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Root named new England captain

Yorkshireman confirmed as Alastair Cook's replacement ahead of the Ashes next summer

England have confirmed Joe Root will take over from Alastair Cook as Test skipper while allrounder Ben Stokes will be his vice-captain.

Cook stood down from the role last week after four-and-a-half-years and 59 Tests at the helm, although he will continue to play on as a batsman.

Root was the heavy favourite to take on the role and his elevation was confirmed on Monday morning (UK time) by the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Sep, 2016: Root, Ali put England in control after day one

The 26-year-old will become England's 80th Test skipper.

"It is a huge honour to be given the England Test captaincy," said Root. "I feel privileged, humbled and very excited.

"We have a very good group of players and I’m looking forward to leading them out in the summer, building on Alastair’s achievements and making the most of our talents in the years ahead.

"The senior guys in the changing room play a very influential role and whilst there’s a natural progression for me it’s a huge support to know that they are there to help and advise."

The Yorkshireman will have to wait for his first Test in charge with England not set to don the whites again until the start of their home series against South Africa on July 6.

Jul, 2016: Cook, Root on song for England at Old Trafford

The four Tests against the Proteas will be followed by a three-Test home series against the West Indies and then the away Ashes next Australian summer.

"Joe is the right man to be our next Test Captain and I’m thrilled that he has accepted the role," said Director of Cricket and former skipper Andrew Strauss.

"He is universally respected by his team mates, passionate about driving the Test team forward and extremely excited about the prospect of leading his country.

"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."

England will be looking to bounce back after a difficult 2016 in Test cricket, with Cook resigning following a 4-0 series defeat in India at the end of last year.

Prior to the South Africa series, England's programme will consist solely of limited overs fixtures, including June's Champions Trophy one-day tournament on home soil.

Last week, Strauss made it clear he wanted Eoin Morgan to remain as England's one-day international and Twenty20 captain.

Root has an impressive Test average of nearly 53 in 53 matches. He scored the first of his 11 Test hundreds at Headingley, his Yorkshire home ground, in May 2013 and currently has a total of 4,594 Test runs, placing him third in the International Cricket Council rankings for Test batsmen.

He has also become a mainstay of the England side in all three international formats and concerns had been expressed about his workload even before his appointment as Test captain.

But Strauss was in no doubt Root, whom he said had accepted "immediately" after he was asked to be England captain last week, was the right man for the job.

Root became a father for the first time last month but flew out days after the birth of his son Alfred to join England on their ODI tour of India.

He is due to travel again next week when England head to the West Indies for a three-match ODI series.

- with AFP