Returning captain Joe Root aiming to build on best of Stokes era against Pakistan

Root not planning on ‘ripping up’ work of Stokes and McCullum Talked up Dan Lawrence’s off-spin bowling on his return to Test side Joe Root says he is not planning on “ripping up” the work of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum as his England side prepare to face Pakistan in the first Test in Leeds, on the Yorkshireman’s return to the captaincy.

The three-match series is the first since the retirement of Stokes from international cricket and the removal of McCullum from his red-ball role.

Root could not escape questions about the former captain and how his side goes about replacing him.

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