England vice-captain Ben Stokes has paid tribute to Joe Root following his decision to step down as Test captain after five years in charge.
As vice-captain, Stokes is widely viewed as the most likely replacement for Root, given he is one of few players guaranteed a spot in the side if fit and has previously filled in as skipper. The likes of Nasser Hussain, Ricky Ponting and Michael Atherton have all called for Stokes to be given the job.
In a post on Instagram, Stokes paid a heartfelt tribute to Root's time as captain, describing it as a "privilege" to play for him. He wrote: "Been a great ride with you my friend.
