The ECB are reportedly expected to formally appoint Ben Stokes as England's new Test captain later this week.
Earlier this month, Joe Root announced that he was ending his five-year stint as skipper of the five-day side, a consequence of his team's prolonged run of poor form.
Identifying an obvious replacement has appeared tricky with some players nearing the end of their careers and others not possessing the experience required to take on such an important role.
That has naturally led to Stokes emerging as the most likely player to be handed the armband, and the Daily Mail says that the Durham all-rounder will be officially confirmed in the position before the end of the week.
The 30-year-old has 79 Test appearances under his belt, scoring 5061 runs and taking 174 wickets, with new ECB managing director Rob Key allegedly meeting with Stokes on Tuesday to put plans in place.
Furthermore, it is claimed that Gary Kirsten, a former coach of India and South Africa, is expected to succeed Chris Silverwood as England's coach for Test cricket.
Darren Plant
