With Root absent, England lost the first test against the West Indies last week in what was the first international cricket match since the sport's shutdown

Young batsman Zak Crawley will retain his place in the playing XI for the second Test following his impressive 76 in Southampton.

Given a choice between Australia's destructive opener David Warner and Indian maestro Rohit, Roy took the name of the latter

Root decided to not take part in the first Test between England and West Indies and in his Instagram post, he wished his side best of luck for the first day of the match.

 This implies that Zak Crawley will have to make his way for Root's inclusion in the second Test against West Indies

Stokes will be leading England in the first Test after Root left the bio-secure bubble in Southampton for Sheffield, to be with his wife, who is expecting their second child.

England opener Dom Sibley admitted that the tour to Sri Lanka before the coronavirus lockdown was a "wake-up call" for him in terms of fitness.

West Indies are the defending champions of the contest having scripted an impressive 2-1 win at home in early 2019 but will be looking to bag their first series win in England since 1988.

Bayliss on Wednesday journeyed back to 2016, after England's defeat to Bangladesh in Chittagong and there was speculation surrounding the future of Alastair Cook as the captain of the English Test side. 

England all-rounder Ben Stokes has been confirmed by England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Tuesday to lead his side in the West Indies Test series opener at the Ageas Bowl on July 8 as regular-captain Joe Root will miss the clash.

Former England captain Nasser Hussain backed Ben Stokes to come good as he replaces Joe Root as captain for the first Test against West Indies.

With Joe Root likely to miss the first Test against West Indies to attend the birth of his child, Ben Stokes is set to lead the England side.

England had suffered a 1-2 loss against the West Indies in their away series last year and the visitors will be rely on their potent pace unit to retain the Wisden Trophy

Nabi also selected his Sunrisers Hyderabad teammate Kane Williamson as his favourite teammate from the franchise. 

Wood, however, said the continued ban on cricket around the country doesn't make sense when the lockdown has been eased.

Root is slated to miss the first Test against West Indies and hence backed vice-captain Stokes to lead the side in his absence. 

Gabriel is in the reserves for the squad that will tour England for a three-match Test series, which will be the first since the cricket calendar grinded to a halt in mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Shannon Gabriel and Joe Root were involved in an altercation during England's tour of West Indies in 2019.

Root is expecting the arrival of his second child in July and he could miss a match or two to be with his wife Carrie and also to maintain the bio-security protocols to tackle COVID-19.

Root also said that the fast bowlers are practicing in the nets without saliva but they will get to know the real effects only when they play the matches.