MICHAEL VAUGHAN has said he believes Joe Root is ready to become England’s Virat Kohli as Test captain.

Root was confirmed yesterday morning as successor to Alastair Cook, and Vaughan — an Ashes-winning former captain himself — admits he has been baffled by those querying whether his fellow Yorkshireman is ready for the promotion.

He concedes Root will inevitably have to learn on the job but insists that, at 26, it is an opportunity that has come at the right time.

“Joe is ready. No question,” Vaughan wrote in his Daily Telegraph column. “I get baffled when people say he is not.

Like two other ex-England captains Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton, Vaughan cites many characteristics which should help the new incumbent.

“He is a good man. He is driven. He is always trying to improve. He never settles with what he has got.”

Root described himself as “privileged, humbled and very excited” after being confirmed.

His predecessor Cook resigned last week after his record 59-match tenure.

Root, who had been Cook’s vice-captain since May last year, will have five months to prepare for his first Test in charge — against South Africa at Lord’s on July 6.

He said: “It is a huge honour to be given the England Test captaincy.”

All-rounder Ben Stokes will be Root’s vice-captain, as England seek to establish a new leadership era not just against South Africa and the West Indies in the forthcoming summer but to face Australia in next winter’s Ashes.

England’s record Test run-scorer Cook is expected to remain at the top of the order for the foreseeable future.

Root, who averages almost 53 in his 53 Tests to date, will therefore have no shortage of advisers to turn to on and off the pitch, including experienced pace pair James Anderson and Stuart Broad, and coaches Trevor Bayliss and Paul Farbrace.

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