Joe Root has given up the Test captaincy recently and left the position vacant. The England Cricket Board (ECB) named Ben Stokes as the new Test captain. The Durham cricketer was the obvious choice. He has been England’s leading all-rounder consistently over the years. Earlier, Stokes captained the team in a Test against West Indies. Stokes sustained a knee injury and was out of training for a couple of weeks. Since Ben Stokes is a crucial player in all three formats, there’s a lot of pressure. He also took a break from the sport for mental health reasons.
The new MD of the England Cricket Board, Rob Key has recommended Ben Stokes as the successor of Root. Key has laid a lot of confidence in the new captain, calling this ‘the absolutely right time’ for stokes to take up the responsibility. Key is also aiming to make other changes in England’s Test set-up in the coming time. Moreover, England’s poor performance is a huge concern. They’ve only managed to win 1 out of the last 17 matches. Furthermore, they’re currently ranked at the bottom in WTC 2021-23 points table. This will be a challenging time for Stokes to start his stint as a captain.
England appoints Ben Stokes as new Test Captain
Joe Root, the longest-serving Test captain of England has given up the captaincy after the 1-0 defeat against West Indies recently. Ben Stokes had a special mention for Root in his official statement post-appointment.
“I am honoured to be given the chance to lead the England Test team. This is a real privilege, and I’m excited about getting started this summer. I want to thank Joe (Root) for everything he has done for English Cricket and for always being a great ambassador for the sport all across the world. He has been a massive part of my development as a leader in the dressing room, and he will continue to be a key ally for me in this role.”
Ben Stokes
