James Anderson says Joe Root is 'England's best player'

James Anderson has backed Joe Root to succeed Alastair Cook as Test captain and believes the batsman is England's "best player by a long way".

Cook resigned as captain on Monday and the ECB will announce his replacement before the one-day international tour of the West Indies later this month.

Yorkshire batsman Root - who recently became a father for the first time - is hot favourite to replace the opener as skipper, and fast bowler Anderson has backed his credentials to lead the side.

"Joe is already quite a mature guy - he might look young but he's pretty mature compared to some," said Anderson, speaking at The Abu Dhabi Invitational. "Fatherhood has given him something else to think about away from the game. I think he will cope with it brilliantly.

"He is a very good batsman. He is our best player by a long way. He has been brilliant over the last few years. He has gone from strength to strength.

"He has made himself into one of the best players in the world. To have someone like that in your team is incredible really, and that is going to be a massive part in our success in the future."

Cook became captain in 2012 and led the team in 59 Tests, an England record. But Anderson revealed that Cook was not quite as sure-footed back then as he is now.

"There are a lot of things that he is probably not that natural with to start with," he said.

"Tactically he has learnt a lot, improved a lot. Speaking to the group he wasn't great, and he's improved a lot over the past couple of years. I think he has done fantastically well."

And Anderson says Cook has played a huge part in setting the tone for the team.

"The sort of feel we have in the group at the moment - we have quite a young squad," he said. "Just trying to get guys to go out there and express themselves, and show off their talent… I think Cooky has been a big driver in trying to help people relax and play their natural way."