CONGRATULATIONS to Joe Root on his appointment as the new England Test cricket captain.

Some people are already questioning his age and experience.

It is impossible to compare past with present in any sport, a prime example being former Australia Test captain Sir Donald Bradman, who played 52 Tests in his illustrious career, over a 20-year period, bearing in mind no Test cricket was played during the six years of the Second World War.

Joe, at 26, has already played 53 Tests. Sir Leonard Hutton played 79 Tests, being another player whose career was divided by the war years.

Len, as he was known in his playing days, was in his 36th year when he was appointed England’s first professional captain.

Joe has a great advantage over Len in the fact that he enjoys better health and physical strength. Len also played after the war with a permanent arm injury.

I hope the former captain, Alastair Cook, will continue to open the innings with a good partner to lay a solid foundation.

I wish Joe and his vice-captain Ben Stokes, and all players chosen to represent England in the future, all the very best, and make England a team to be proud of.

I hope each member of the Test team wears their cap and sweater bearing the crown and three lions with immense pride.

Mike Kitching, Old Malton