Durham chief tips 'inspirational' Ben Stokes to shine as England Test captain

Durham 's director of cricket Marcus North has backed Ben Stokes to be a success if he is named as Joe Root 's replacement as England Test captain.

Root resigned as skipper earlier this month after five years in charge, having done the job longer than any other England captain in history. And Stokes is expected to replace him, with the all-rounder one of few players guaranteed a spot in the side if fit and the current vice-captain.

Stokes is set for a meeting with new Managing Director of England Men's Cricket Rob Key to discuss the role and he is expected to be offered the job. And North believes Stokes is well-suited to the captaincy, insisting he will "have the whole dressing room behind him" should he succeed Root.

Speaking to Sky Sports , North said: "He's a match winner, he has moments of absolute brilliance and wins games on his own. That's someone that you naturally, as a teammate, will be inspired to play with and to follow.

"He's someone that wears his heart on his sleeve and gives everything he's possibly got for England when he plays.

"That's always a great quality in a leader and I have no doubt that if he gets the opportunity and he wants to take that opportunity, he'll have the whole dressing room behind him."

North also offered an update on Stokes' fitness, with the all-rounder returning to training last week as he steps up his recovery from a knee injury. Stokes is set to return to action in May and could feature in up to three County Championship games for Durham before England's first Test against New Zealand in June.

"It's been well documented with his increased workload in the West Indies with his bowling, he had a little bit of a flare-up in his knee but I think that's all going very,