Joe Root will return as England’s Test captain, with his second spell in charge likely to continue through next summer’s home Ashes series against Australia, The Athletic reported on Friday.England’s search for a new Test boss continues Ben StokesRetirement from international cricket now seems over with Root returning to the role.The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is expected to announce Root as captain for the three-Test series against Pakistan, starting on August 19, with the appointment likely to extend into next year’s Ashes, the Athletic report said.The move allows Harry BrookStokes’ deputy in Tests, to continue as England’s white-ball captain ahead of the 50-year-old World Cup, and continue to work with T20 and one-day international coach Brendon McCullum.England are still looking for a new Test coach after parting ways with McCullum in the red ball format. According to The Athletic report, assistant coach Marcus Trescothick is increasingly expected to take charge on an interim basis for the Pakistan series.The ECB faced a difficult month following the end of England’s first Test assignment of the summer against New Zealand, which left the team searching for both a new captain and a new Test coach.Stokes announced his retirement during the third Test of the series, which England lost 2–1. Soon after, the ECB also decided to replace McCullum after four years as Test coach.Root had already stepped in as captain for the second Test against New Zealand after Stokes was suspended following a drinking session in Chelsea after the first Test, an incident that led to further problems for English cricket.This experience seems to have convinced the ECB that Root remains their best option for the role.The only uncertainty was whether Root, England’s highest Test run-scorer, wanted to return to the captain after saying that he was done with the job when his first spell ended in 2022. He had given up after England achieved only one victory in 17 Tests.Now Root, who is currently playing for the Welsh Fire in The Hundred, will once again lead England, starting with the Pakistan series, as the team looks to bounce back from a difficult year.England started 2026 with a 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia and then suffered their first major home loss since 2012 against New Zealand.