Ben Stokes to captain England in opening Test against the West Indies

All-rounder will take over reins while Root takes time out for the birth of his second child

Ben Stokes bowls during an England training session at the Ageas Bowl. Getty

Stuart Broad during training at the Ageas Bowl on June 28, 2020. Getty

England players warm-up before training at the Ageas Bowl on June 28, 2020. Getty

Amar Virdi bowling during training at the Ageas Bowl on June 26, 2020. Getty

England's Sam Curran, left, and Ben Stokes practice slip catching at the Ageas Bowl on June 25, 2020. PA

England wicketkeeper Ben Foakes at the Ageas Bowl on June 26, 2020. Getty

Ben Stokes jogs during training session on June 26, 2020. Getty

England's Joe Root during training session at the Ageas Bowl on June 25, 2020. PA

England's Jos Buttler gives the thumbs up during training on June 25, 2020. PA

England's Chris Woakes bats in the nets during training on June 25, 2020. PA

Ben Stokes will captain England for the first time in next week's opening Test against the West Indies, taking over from Joe Root as he takes time out for the birth of his second child.

Root's wife Carrie is due to give birth later this week and, with the strict protocols in place to ensure the series takes place in a 'bio-secure' environment, he will need to be isolated from the group for at least a week on his return from hospital.

That means the rubber-stamping of Stokes' temporary promotion at the Ageas Bowl next week, having never before taken the reins in his professional career.

The team's star all-rounder will not have to wait long for a chance to hone his skills, heading up one of the sides in a three-day internal squad match starting in Southampton on Wednesday.

With Root heading north to join his family in Sheffield, Jos Buttler will captain the other in a game that sees 27 of the country's best red-ball players go head to head.

Buttler will also serve as Stokes' vice-captain in the first Test, reprising his long-term role under Eoin Morgan in the limited-overs side and one he has previously performed in support of Root.

Buttler's nomination also appears to settle one of the key selection questions.

He has not scored the runs to indisputably nail down his position as wicketkeeper-batsman and, with Jonny Bairstow and Ben Foakes circling, there had been some suggestion he could be steered towards one-day specialism this summer. For now, at least, that will not be happening.

Stokes has been preparing for this moment ever since the schedule confirmed a likely clash for Root, and declared earlier this week that he plans to be an attacking captain - in keeping with his all-action style on the field.

Head coach Chris Silverwood has no qualms about his credentials, despite his own admission that he last led a team as a teenager in the Durham academy.

"I think he'll do a great job. He is a talisman, he leads from the front anyway," said Silverwood.

"It will be interesting to see what he does because obviously it is his first time captaining England. We know he has got an aggressive nature but equally there is a good cricket brain in there as well.

"I think he will be quite vocal about what moves he is making when he is out there and I'm looking forward to working with him from a coaching point of view.

"He's been Rooty's right-hand man for a while now. I know Rooty does turn to him a lot and he's been involved in a lot of talks we have behind the scenes. He's in a great place to pick up the reins."

Before the announcement, Stokes said he had never set a goal to become England captain but he was nevertheless looking forward to the opportunity.

____________________________________________________

Ben Stokes in 2019: a year to remember

Ben Stokes is the ultimate competitor. He almost single-handedly won the Headingley Test for England against Australia last summer. PA

Ben Stokes made an unbeaten 84 and guided England to a thrilling super over win over New Zealand at the 2019 World Cup final in London. PA

Ben Stokes topped his World Cup final effort with a sensational 135 not out that handed England an unlikely one-wicket win in the third Ashes Test against Australia at Headingley. PA

Ben Stokes was named man of the match for his performance in the thrilling win over New Zealand in the 2019 World Cup final. AFP

Ben Stokes poses with the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award in Aberdeen. PA

Ben Stokes won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award following a brilliant World Cup and Ashes for England. PA

Nicola Adams, right, and Lizzy Yarnold present Eoin Morgan, second left, the Moment of the Year award. PA

Ben Stokes had a great year in ODI and Test cricket. PA

Ben Stokes's catch to dismiss South Africa's Andile Phehlukwayo at the 2019 World Cup was one of the best catches ever taken. AFP

Eoin Morgan, second left, on stage after England receive the Team of the Year and Moment of the Year awards along side Jason Roy, centre, and Ben Stokes in Aberdeen. PA

Ben Stokes and wife Clare Ratcliffe during the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards in Aberdeen. PA

Eoin Morgan, left, Jason Roy, second left, Ben Stokes, second right, and Gary Lineker. PA

____________________________________________________

"If you look at Alastair Cook he was destined to be captain after Andrew Strauss and Root was destined to be captain after Cook, you know who the next one will be when one is coming towards the end of his career," he said on Monday.

"If I'm being honest, I'm not one of those who people would necessarily associate with being next England captain. But I am looking forward to the opportunity of doing it."

Stokes has asked for – and been granted – a voice in the final team selection, though the bulk of the team's established pecking order should remain intact.

Among the positions that are still to be tussled over during a rare 'England versus England' clash – namely Root's replacement at No 4, the first-choice spinner and which fast bowlers make the XI.

The likeliest top-order options are split equally between the two sides, Dom Sibley and Zak Crawley on one, with Rory Burns and Joe Denly in the other, while Dan Lawrence and Jonny Bairstow are each pencilled in to Root's usual spot.

In the spin department, the returning Moeen Ali and Jack Leach line-up for Team Stokes while Dom Bess and Matt Parkinson represent Team Buttler.

Long-time new ball partners James Anderson and Stuart Broad will be in separate changing rooms, each fronting a packed seam attack.

In all, six uncapped players make the cut, with only Somerset's Jamie Overton and Surrey's Amar Virdi left out from the original training group of 30.

"You know the people who are the mainstay of our side, the engine room, but this is a great opportunity for some of the other players to show us what they can do in this game," said Silverwood.

"We've mixed the sides up to make it as competitive as possible and to have a good game going into this first Test. I'm sure there'll be a few in there who are very keen to impress."