Eoin Morgan an 'excellent candidate' for ODI captaincy
Tuesday 12 May 2015 16:49, UK
England’s director of cricket Andrew Strauss has revealed Joe Root will become the new vice-captain of the Test side.
Root replaces Ian Bell as number two to Alastair Cook in the build-up to Test series against New Zealand and Australia this summer.
The 24-year-old has excelled in England's middle-order, averaging 55 runs from 25 Tests, and Strauss said it is the right time for the Yorkshire batsman to take more of an authoritative role within the side.
"It's the right time for Joe Root to take more of a leadership position and I've asked him to be the new vice-captain of the team," Strauss told Sky Sports.
"He's got outstanding leadership capabilities and we need him to start thinking more as a captain.
"It's in no way a reflection on the job Ian Bell has done, he has been excellent in that role by all accounts, but it's time for Joe to step up in that regard."
Strauss also revealed the need for a change in strategy between England's Test and one-day structure, stating a specialised captain will be implemented for ODI and Twenty20 internationals.
"It is my belief that we need far more separation between the Test and one-day side going forward, that's going to give us the flexibility to play very differently in one-day cricket and we all know that's what we need to do," Strauss added.
"We've got to do things differently, look at things differently and come up with new ideas. In order to do that, I think we will benefit from a specialised one-day captain."
Eoin Morgan captained England during their disastrous World Cup campaign in Australia and New Zealand earlier this year, but Strauss said the 28-year-old remains an "excellent candidate" for the role of one-day captain.
"Eoin Morgan took over that role for the World Cup and I think it's very harsh to judge him on what went on in that campaign.
"He's an excellent candidate to lead England in one-day and Twenty20 cricket. He's playing these Twenty20 competitions all around the world and is gaining knowledge from different sources and he can apply that to the England team."
