Star batsman Joe Root will take the reins as England skipper following the resignation of Alastair Cook last week.

Root, who is currently ranked the world’s third-best Test batsman, will lead England for a home series against South Africa before his side travels to Australia for The Ashes later in the year.

In a move widely predicted by the British media, the 26-year-old was appointed captain on the back of a glittering start to his Test career, averaging 52.80 from his first 53 Tests, including 11 centuries.

Root made his Test debut in December 2012, at the age of 21. Only India’s Virat Kohli has scored more than Root’s 4594 Test runs since then.

Star England bowler Jimmy Anderson earlier said Root was the favourite for the job.

“He’s the obvious candidate, I would say. The decision is a big one because he’s our best player, so you obviously don’t want that to be affected,” Anderson told BBC Radio.

“He’s quiet but he has got that fire in his belly. You can see that when he goes out to bat. He gets into situations – one-on-ones – with people. He’s fiery, he does speak. He speaks a lot of sense when he does speak and he’s a really impressive young man.”

Root has a mixed Ashes record and was one of the many casualties of a rampaging Australian bowling attack during the 2013/14, 5-0 whitewash.

But he has scored well at home, both in The Ashes and in Test cricket generally, averaging nearly 60 with the bat in England.

He has a highest score of 254, which he scored at Old Trafford last year against Pakistan.

Considered a rising star in England since the start of career, he first came to prominence in Australia before he’d ever played a test.

The young batsman was punched by David Warner during a row in a Birmingham pub, in an incident that saw the Australian opener dropped during that England tour.

Root’s predecessor, Alastair Cook, led England for a record 59 Tests, which included two Ashes victories and a win in India.