Joe Root and Marcus Trescothick Set to Lead England in Pakistan Test Series

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-07-26

England's cricket board is weighing a major shake-up ahead of the upcoming Test series against Pakistan, with Joe Root likely to return as captain and Marcus Trescothick stepping in as interim coach. The series kicks off on August 19 at Headingley, and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) wants both roles locked in before then. But if talks with permanent candidates drag on, they're ready to roll with a temporary setup. Rob Key, England's managing director, is leading the search for a new Test head coach alongside an external headhunter. This week, he's already had preliminary chats with several big names, including Stephen Fleming, Jonathan Trott, Richard Dawson, and Tom Moody. Fleming and Trott are free agents right now after leaving Chennai Super Kings and Afghanistan, so they'd be easier to sign quickly. Dawson's still under contract with Glamorgan as head coach, and Moody works for Lucknow Super Giants as their global director of cricket, meaning both would need their current bosses to let them go. ### The Interim Coach Dilemma Richard Gould, the ECB's chief executive, said earlier this month that the board would ideally have a permanent coach before the Pakistan series starts. But he admitted an interim appointment is still on the table. Trescothick, who served as Brendon McCullum's assistant before McCullum got the boot, is the frontrunner for that interim role if the board can't secure a full-time coach in time. Andy Flower, who topped the ECB's initial shortlist, pulled his name out last week. He said he's committed to Royal Challengers Bengaluru and London Spirit in franchise cricket. The board's also floated a job-share idea between two coaches, but that would bring its own logistical headaches. ### Root's Return to the Helm The Athletic reported on Friday that Root is set to be named England's Test captain through the 2027 Ashes series. He's currently the favorite to lead the side in the first Test against Pakistan, though the ECB insists no final decision has been made. Root previously held the full-time Test captaincy from 2017 to 2022, leading England in 65 matches with 27 wins and 27 losses. But he's won just one of his last 18 Tests in charge. He filled in as captain against New Zealand at The Oval last month during Ben Stokes' absence and said afterward that he enjoyed returning to the role, despite England losing that match by 253 runs. ### Other Options Still in Play Gould has said the decision on Stokes' successor will ultimately rest with the incoming coach, though he hinted there's already an obvious direction. Stokes had endorsed his vice-captain Harry Brook for the role before stepping down, and Brook has built a strong partnership with McCullum across England's white-ball sides. Other possibilities include: - Naming Brook captain across all formats until the Ashes - Splitting the Test and limited-overs captaincies between different players - Handing the Test job to a less experienced option like Jacob Bethell, who's currently sidelined with injury, while keeping Brook in the white-ball roles Most England players are currently busy with the Hundred, which limits the board's window to finalize these decisions before the Pakistan series gets underway. For more cricket news and updates, check out the JeetWin Blog.