Root to captain game-by-game but is 'envious' of Stokes-McCullum dynamic

I'll take England captaincy game-by-game - RootImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Joe Root averaged 46.44 with the bat as England Test captain - down on his career average of 50.73ByMatthew HenryBBC Sport journalist at The OvalPublished13 minutes agoJoe Root says he is taking the England Test captaincy on a "game-by-game basis" but admits he has been "slightly envious" of Ben Stokes for getting to work alongside Brendon McCullum.Root, who led England in a record 64 Tests between 2017 and 2022, will make a remarkable return to the role in Wednesday's second Test against New Zealand following Ben Stokes' involvement in an incident in a London nightclub.The 35-year-old said he is in a "very different place" to when he gave up the captaincy, since which he has played solely as a batter under Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum."I have really enjoyed the last couple of days working with Baz in a slightly different space," Root said."That is one thing, in a small way, in a good way - I was slightly envious of that opportunity to work with someone like Baz in this sort of capacity. "It has been really cool the last couple of days."McCullum worried for Stokes, no captaincy backingPublished1 day agoStokes in good spirits - Durham boss CampbellPublished3 hours agoBaker and Cox to make Test debuts at The OvalPublished1 day agoStokes, a close friend of Root's, was left out of England's squad after he breached the team's midnight curfew the night after victory in the first Test and was present when a member of England's security staff was struck by a Saracens rugby player.Root said he has spoken to Stokes since last week's incident but he wanted to keep their conversations private. He maintained Stokes still holds the respect of the dressing room.Root's previous tenure ended with a run of one win in 17 Tests and he said he would have rated the chances of him becoming skipper a...