Root shows off-field leadership - now for on-field

At the back of the Compton Stand at Lord's is an enormous picture of Ben Stokes.

In the snap, Stokes unleashes a bouncer to a flinching Mohammed Siraj, the India tailender. It was taken during England's heart-stopping 22-run win on this ground last summer.

England's defeat of India was all about Stokes. He made contributions with the bat in both innings, ran out Rishabh Pant with a direct hit and put in a trademark marathon bowling spell on the final day. Stokes came to the post-match media conference with blood seeping through his sock.

Throughout Stokes' tenure as England captain, the question loomed of how anyone would eventually go about succeeding him.

For better or worse, Stokes became the all-encompassing figure in the team, for his performances on the field and what he said or did off it. It was hard to imagine how anyone could emerge from his shadow without having their leadership compared to the talismanic all-rounder.

England are little more than a week into the post-Stokes era and there is already no doubt about the strength of leadership at the helm. This is Joe Root's team now.

The last thing Root would have wanted at the beginning of his second reign as skipper was the Brydon Carse controversy.

Yet, the Yorkshireman has shown himself to be the captain English cricket needs, yet probably does not deserve.