The England and Wales Cricket Board on Thursday announced Ben Stokes as the new Test captain.
Stokes (30) has scored 5,061 runs and taken 174 wickets in 79 Tests. Stokes took over from Joe Root, who stepped down earlier this month after five years at the helm. Stokes had been vice-captain since 2017. He had previously stepped in as captain in a match against the West Indies in 2020.
Stokes declared, “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... 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.”
Stokes will begin his tenure as full-time captain with a Test against New Zealand at Lord's on June 2.
Stokes had been the front-runner for the post. His appointment is the first major decision of Rob Key, who had recently been appointed managing director of England men's cricket. Key said “I had no hesitation in offering the role of Test captain to Ben. He epitomises the mentality and approach we want to take this team forward into the next era of red-ball cricket. I am delighted that he has accepted, and he is ready for the added responsibility and the honour. He thoroughly deserves the opportunity.”
Fast bowler Stuart Broad told the BBC Stokes would be an “exceptional” captain. “He is someone you naturally follow anyway, he's a leader in the changing room. If he takes the way he plays and trains, his positive attitude, into his captaincy that'll be a really exciting thing for English cricket. He's got a really good tactical brain, so I'm sure he'll be exceptional,” Broad said.
Stokes takes over as captain at a time the England Test team is low on confidence. “Stokes takes charge of an England side that have won just one of their last 17 Tests, going five series without a victory for the first time in history. They are currently bottom of the 2021-23 World Test Championship,” ESPN Cricinfo reported.
