Ben Stokes accepts supply of England captaincy by Rob Key to start out new period for Check aspect

Ben Stokes will lead England out at Lord’s as the brand new Check captain after being provided the job by Rob Key.

Stokes was honoured to simply accept the function and take over from his buddy and former skipper Joe Root to start out a brand new period for the misfiring aspect.

With the choice made, it now requires the ECB board to ratify it earlier than saying it formally, as they do each time a brand new England captain is appointed. And if the board can meet shortly sufficient just about on Wednesday, Key could be able to announce the set up of Stokes as Check skipper at his first media convention on Thursday.

The appointment of Stokes is the primary main transfer of Key’s tenure as managing director of males’s cricket and it has been a comparatively easy one. The pair spoke on the telephone over the Easter weekend when Key was confirmed in his put up, with the captaincy already a part of the dialog.

But it surely was solely after Key made the journey as much as the North East to see Stokes head to head on Tuesday that issues have been confirmed. They mentioned plans for the way forward for the Check aspect that’s in determined want of a shot within the arm after its most up-to-date 1-0 collection defeat within the Caribbean.

And Key believes Stokes is the perfect man to offer it as the brand new chief of the group following Root’s resignation.

Already a pacesetter within the dressing room after 79 caps and numerous match-winning performances, Stokes was Root’s vice captain for a lot of his time in cost.

However the elevation to the job full time represents a full circle for Stokes who has had his ups and downs throughout his time as an England cricketer, not least surrounding occasions in Bristol in 2017 and when he took day out of the sport final yr to take care of his psychological well-being.

Regardless of these intervals out of the aspect, Stokes has continued to be a necessary a part of the group, and reaffirmed his dedication to Check cricket by withdrawing from the Indian Premier League this season to concentrate on pink ball cricket. He’ll resume enjoying as soon as extra on Might fifth for Durham in opposition to Worcestershire.

Stokes has executed the job as Check skipper as soon as earlier than as a stand-in for Root who was absent for the delivery of his second baby in 2020. The sport led to an in depth 4 wicket defeat in opposition to the West Indies in Southampton however Stokes confirmed that he had the qualities required to guide, not least when he insisted that he be the one to tell Stuart Broad that he had been not noted of the aspect earlier than the sport.

Issues over his workload because the group’s all rounder have been additionally allayed as he produced the products with each bat and ball within the match, however crucially didn’t overbowl himself within the push for victory. Stokes would be the first participant from Durham to carry the everlasting place as England Check captain with present director of cricket Marcus North describing him as somebody who ‘may have the entire dressing room behind him.’

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