Issues facing Ben Stokes following his appointment as England Test captain

England’s Test team are entering a new era under Ben Stokes’ leadership after the all-rounder was confirmed as the new captain.

The 30-year-old takes over a side that have won just one of their last 17 matches and face the dual task of reinventing their identity at the same time as turning around a dire sequence of results.

Here, the PA news agency looks at some of the most pressing issues.

It might not be a captain’s position to appoint the coach he works with, but now that he is in place it would be perverse not to seek Stokes’ counsel on the vacancy. Stokes has played cricket all over the world, has come across many of the leading candidates on the international circuit or in the Indian Premier League and is bound to have formed strong opinions. It is imperative that the working relationship between the on-field and off-field leaders is a good one, so his views on potential candidates will be a vital resource for managing director Rob Key.

Watching one of my great mates lead us all out on to the field was a privilege. You have given everything to English cricket and we all want to say thank you for your sacrifices and hard work.- Stokes' Instagram tribute to his predecessor

England are lucky that the bond between their former skipper and his successor is so strong. Stokes and Root have been close since meeting as teenagers and have forged a strong double act as the fulcrum of the team in recent years. The dynamic is about to change, though, with Stokes stepping up as the man in charge as Root slips back into the ranks. To get the most out of the switch, Stokes needs to give his friend whatever he needs to focus and flourish as a star batter. Root’s runs will remain invaluable to England and he should be asked to