Joe Root has been reappointed England men’s Test match captain, four years after he handed over the reins at the end of his last stint. As well, with enough distance from the miserable end of Root’s captaincy, there’s room for a more objective reflection on Root’s captaincy era. Nevertheless, both in numbers and on the field, the impact of Covid on Root’s captaincy cannot be overstated. Root won 23 of those Tests compared to Stokes’ 24, but with a better win/loss ratio. But the chaotic end of Stokes’ captaincy has left room for reflection, not least from Root himself.