LONDON: England skipper Joe Root is set to miss the first Test against West Indies to attend the birth of his second child, the country’s media reported.
According to the country’s media, all-rounder Ben Stokes will lead the side for the first time in Joe Root’s absence. In this regard, Joe Root backed the all-rounder’s ability to lead the team and termed him as a ‘natural leader’.
Veteran England fast-bowler Stuart Broad also batted for all-rounder Stokes to lead the side in the first Test against West Indies.
“He has a great cricket brain, he has grown and matured over the last few years so captaining one game will be easy. There won’t be much pressure as he’s not being judged over a long period of time. I have no doubts he will be brilliant,” Stuart Board said.
Root’s wife is expecting a baby around a similar time as the first Test and if Root attends the birth of his second child then he will have to go under mandatory self-isolation before joining the team again.
During the series, West Indies players will wear a Black Lives Matter logo on their shirts. The logo has also been worn by Premier League footballers in recent weeks in support of the anti-racism movement following the death of George Floyd in the United States.
The three-Test match series between England and West Indies will mark the resumption of cricket after the sport was suspended in March due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
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