West Indies coach Phil Simmons has said that the first Test will be a battle between all-rounders Jason Holder and Ben Stokes.
England opener Dom Sibley admitted that the tour to Sri Lanka before the coronavirus lockdown was a "wake-up call" for him in terms of fitness.
Rory Burns and Dom Sibley are expected to open the innings with Joe Denly sticking at number three, leaving Root's number four spot for Crawley in the first Test.
West Indies are the defending champions of the contest having scripted an impressive 2-1 win at home in early 2019 but will be looking to bag their first series win in England since 1988.
Stokes will be temporarily filling in for regular Test skipper Joe Root and Hussain feels it will be too much on Stokes' shoulders if he takes over the role full time.
ECB also named nine reserves for the Test match which will mark the resumption of international cricket after long three months break due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Bayliss on Wednesday journeyed back to 2016, after England's defeat to Bangladesh in Chittagong and there was speculation surrounding the future of Alastair Cook as the captain of the English Test side.
England's World Cup hero Stokes was on Tuesday named captain for the opening Test against West Indies in place of Joe Root
England's World Cup hero Ben Stokes was on Tuesday named captain for the opening Test against West Indies in place of Root, who has taken leave to be with his wife for the birth of their second child.
Even though the responsibility might last for only one match, Stokes has clarified that he wants a 'decent' say when it comes to the selection of the final playing XI for the opener.
England all-rounder Ben Stokes has been confirmed by England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Tuesday to lead his side in the West Indies Test series opener at the Ageas Bowl on July 8 as regular-captain Joe Root will miss the clash.
Former England captain Nasser Hussain backed Ben Stokes to come good as he replaces Joe Root as captain for the first Test against West Indies.
Stokes reckons that over the course of his Test career, he has learned a lot from Root and former skipper Alastair Cook and is hence ready to accept the role.
With Joe Root likely to miss the first Test against West Indies to attend the birth of his child, Ben Stokes is set to lead the England side.
Broad believes Stokes is well-equipped to captain the team in Root's absence as he has a 'good cricketing brain' and there won't be any pressure on him considering he will wear the armband for just one match.
Wood, however, said the continued ban on cricket around the country doesn't make sense when the lockdown has been eased.
Root is slated to miss the first Test against West Indies and hence backed vice-captain Stokes to lead the side in his absence.
Root is expecting the arrival of his second child in July and he could miss a match or two to be with his wife Carrie and also to maintain the bio-security protocols to tackle COVID-19.
Root is a doubtful starter for the first Test in July as he will be required to undergo seven days of self-isolation after attending the birth of his second child.
The three-time Ashes winner drew experience from his short captaincy stint in 2008 and hence reckons that Jos Buttler would be a better option.
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