Stumps & Bumps: Root's Return Akin to CM Punk Comeback

England have reappointed Joe Root as Test captain once again, after four years, replacing Ben Stokes who announced his shock retirement after the series loss to New Zealand in June.

Root was Test captain from 2017 to 2022 and SEN Cricket's Bharat Sundaresan is confident that this second stint as skipper will take England back to success, comparing it to the comeback of WWE Champion CM Punk to World Wrestling Entertainment in 2023.

"Much like CM Punk in his first WWE run which came at a time when it's safe to say John Cena was transitioning out, he was carrying the company on his shoulders in some way. Joe Root was captain at a time where a lot of the senior batters had moved on. Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Alistair Cook - it was Joe Root's time to not just be captain, but to take this team forward."

"He [Root] has enjoyed his cricket so much more in the last four years because suddenly you had so many other batters around him putting their hand up. Whether it's Ben Duckett or Zach Crawley or the arrival of Harry Brook on the scene he's benefited from it. Joe Root is the main eventer without having to headline everything on his own and now has some support, which is why I also think CM Punk is enjoying this WWE run so much because it's not all on him anymore."

Listen to Bharat’s thoughts on the post-Bazball era on the latest episode of Stumps & Bumps: