England selector Marcus North backs Joe Root as Test captain over Harry Brook

England cricket selector Marcus North explained that the board reinstated former skipper Joe Root as Test captain rather than promoting white‑ball captain Harry Brook. The decision was driven by a desire to avoid over‑burdening Brook with the responsibilities of leading across all three formats, allowing him to focus on his current ODI and T20I duties and the upcoming World Cup. North praised Brook’s work in the limited‑overs game and said he remains a future Test captain, but emphasized Root’s experience – having previously captained England in 64 Tests between 2017 and 2022 – makes him the safer choice after Ben Stokes stepped away from international cricket.