Joe Root reappointed England Test captain as Stephen Fleming named head coach

Joe Root has been renamed as England's Test captain, while former New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming has been named the team's new head coach, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced on Thursday.

The appointments come after Brendon McCullum was removed as Test coach following England's 2-1 home series defeat to New Zealand, while former captain Ben Stokes retired from international cricket earlier this month. McCullum will continue to coach England's white-ball sides.

Root will lead England in next month's three-Test series against Pakistan, although Fleming is expected to take charge later in the year.

The Yorkshire batter previously captained England in a record 65 Tests, winning 27 matches. He also briefly returned as stand-in captain during the recent series against New Zealand.

Root, 35, has scored more than 14,000 Test runs and is second only to India's Sachin Tendulkar on the all-time Test run-scorers list.

"It is a great honour and privilege to be asked to be England men's Test captain again," Root said.

"The Test captaincy is a difficult but hugely rewarding job and, after enjoying a brief taste of it again working with Baz McCullum last month, I am excited to lead this next generation of players forward."