Root’s return as Test captain shows England’s leadership crisis

Joe Root will return as England's full-time Test captain for the series opener against Pakistan this week. The decision, while seen as a safe choice, has been called by sports.ndtv.com an indictment of the lack of leadership depth in the English set-up.

Root previously held the role for five years before stepping down after a poor run of results. His reappointment marks a second spell at the helm, reflecting the team's struggle to find a permanent successor. The Pakistan series begins Thursday in Multan.

The move has drawn mixed reactions from pundits. Some see Root's experience as stabilising, while others view it as a sign of stagnation in English cricket's leadership pipeline.