Ben Stokes: England identify all-rounder as new Check captain to succeed Joe Root

Ben Stokes has been named England Check captain, taking on from Joe Root.

Batter Root, 31, stepped down after 5 years in cost earlier this month, having led England in a document 64 Exams.

“I’m honoured to be given the possibility to steer the England Check workforce,” mentioned Stokes.

“It is a actual privilege, and I am enthusiastic about getting began this summer time.”

Stokes’ first Check as everlasting England captain might be in opposition to world champions New Zealand at Lord’s on 2 June.

He beforehand captained England within the first Check defeat by West Indies in 2020 when Root missed the match to attend the start of his second youngster.

“I need to thank Joe Root for the whole lot he has performed for English cricket and for all the time being a terrific ambassador for the game all internationally,” added Stokes.

“He has been a large a part of my improvement as a pacesetter within the dressing room, and he’ll proceed to be a key ally for me on this function.”

Stokes was appointed captain by new managing director of England males’s cricket Rob Key, in his first main act within the function.

“I had no hesitation in providing the function of Check captain to Ben,” mentioned Key.

“He epitomises the mentality and method we need to take this workforce ahead into the following period of red-ball cricket.

“I’m delighted that he has accepted, and he’s prepared for the added accountability and the honour. He completely deserves the chance.”

Stokes additionally led the one-day worldwide facet to a 3-0 collection victory over Pakistan final summer time after a Covid outbreak pressured England to call a completely new squad.

He subsequently took a break from cricket in July for his psychological wellbeing and to permit a finger damage to heal however returned to the England squad for the Ashes collection.

Following England’s tour of the West Indies in March, Stokes has been struggling ache in his left knee, however is hoping to make a return for county facet Durham in Could.

Former Kent and England batter Key took over as managing director earlier this month, changing Andrew Strauss, who had stepped in on an interim foundation following the sacking of Ashley Giles in February.

England are additionally within the strategy of filling their head coach emptiness after Chris Silverwood was sacked in February following the 4-0 Ashes defeat by Australia within the winter.

England plan to nominate separate coaches for the Check and white-ball sides, a change to the latest set-up.

Root stepped down as captain, citing the “toll” the job had on him, after a 1-0 collection defeat by West Indies.

England are winless in 9 Exams and have just one gained of their previous 17 matches.

After three Exams in opposition to New Zealand in June, England face India within the rescheduled fifth Check in July, earlier than three Exams in opposition to South Africa in August and September.

Stokes’ journey to Check captain

Stokes made his Check debut throughout the 2013-14 Ashes in Australia, with the left-handed batter hitting his maiden Check century in his second match in Perth.

He missed the 2014 World Twenty20 with a damaged hand sustained when punching a locker on a tour of the West Indies and subsequently drifted out and in of the England set-up, lacking the 2015 50-over World Cup.

He returned to hit the quickest Check century seen at Lord’s – 101 from 85 balls in opposition to New Zealand in 2015 – earlier than smashing England’s quickest Check double century in opposition to South Africa in January 2016.

The all-rounder was appointed Check vice-captain when Root took over the captaincy in 2017.

Stokes was arrested after a struggle outdoors a Bristol nightclub in 2017, which led to him lacking the 2017-18 Ashes in Australia and being stripped of the vice-captaincy. He was later discovered not responsible of affray and was reinstated as vice-captain in July 2019.

In the summertime of 2019 Stokes performed two unimaginable innings, first rescuing England within the closing of their Males’s World Cup win after which producing his astonishing 135 not out in opposition to Australia within the Ashes at Headingley. The performances noticed him named BBC Sports activities Persona of the Yr that December.

In 2020 Stokes missed England matches for compassionate depart and later that yr his father Ged died after being recognized with mind most cancers.

Stokes returned for England within the winter of 2020-21 however, after breaking his finger on the Indian Premier League and speeding again to captain a depleted facet in opposition to Pakistan, he missed the complete collection in opposition to India final summer time after saying an indefinite break.

After returning he had a tough Ashes collection, hitting two fifties and taking 4 wickets, however rediscovered his kind with an excellent century in opposition to West Indies in March.

Stokes captaincy ‘actually thrilling’ – Broad

England tempo bowler Stuart Board advised BBC Sport that Stokes might be an “distinctive” captain.

“He’s somebody you naturally comply with anyway, he is a pacesetter within the altering room,” Broad mentioned.

“If he takes the best way he performs and trains, his constructive angle, into his captaincy that’ll be a extremely thrilling factor for English cricket.

“He is obtained a extremely good tactical mind, so I am certain he’ll be distinctive.”

England’s earlier talismanic all-rounders, Ian Botham and Andrew Flintoff, each had powerful spells as Check captain, with Botham failing to win any of his 12 Exams in cost, whereas Flintoff’s facet have been thrashed 5-0 within the 2006-07 Ashes in Australia.

Broad mentioned it was “actually essential” to not bracket Stokes with Botham and Flintoff.

“Stokes has handled a lot in his life and nonetheless been in a position to carry out to the best requirements,” he mentioned.

“He will not let the added strain or the added accountability of being a captain have an effect on the best way he trains and have an effect on the best way he performs.”

‘English cricket wants Stokes as captain’ – evaluation

BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew

We anticipated this – there have been only a few candidates across the English sport to tackle this huge function.

Lots of people might be involved concerning the attainable influence on Stokes’ sport – he is such a star, he is the person able to turning any sport round.

However Stokes was vice-captain and so this appears to be a superbly pure development.

English cricket wants Stokes as captain in the mean time, it wants someone to take the game by the scruff of the neck and drag it in the proper course.