Joe Root replaces Cook as England test captain

Britain Cricket - England v Pakistan - First Test - Lord’s - 14/7/16 England’s Alastair Cook and Joe Root Action Images via Reuters / Andrew Boyers Livepic/File Photo

LONDON (Reuters) - Joe Root was appointed England's test cricket captain on Monday, replacing Alastair Cook who resigned last week after four and a half years in charge.

"Joe Root is the perfect choice for England Test captain," said Colin Graves, chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), in a statement. "I’m delighted that he has accepted the role and will now help to take the team to the next level."

Ben Stokes was named vice-captain.

Root, 26, has scored 4,594 test runs since his debut in 2012 and will become England's 80th test skipper with his first game in charge set to be against South Africa at Lord's on July 6.

(Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Ossian Shine...)