Joe Root was named England’s new Test captain on Monday. The decision was taken after England’s director of cricket Andrew Strauss held talks with head coach Trevor Bayliss and senior players James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Moeen Ali, The Telegraph reported. Root will be the 80th English Test skipper and eighth man from Yorkshire to lead his country.

Alastair Cook pulled down the curtains over his six-year tenure last Monday after England’s disastrous tour of India, which saw them being defeated in all three formats. The Test side in particular, came under the scanner for losing the five-match series 0-4.

All-rounder Ben Stokes has been named as Root’s deputy. The 26-year-old Root has emerged as England’s leading batsman in the last two years. Stokes, Moeen Ali and Jonny Bairstow were contenders to succeed Cook, with Root’s inexperience in the role at domestic or youth cricket seen as a concern.

England will be playing against West Indies away and South Africa at home before travelling to Australia at the end of the year to play the Ashes.