When My Phone Started Ringing And I Saw Joe Root's Name Flash Up - Ben Stokes

Britain all-rounder Ben Stokes has expressed that while there will be “a ton of theories” that he may be given the obligation to lead the Test side after Joe Root has stepped down as captain, the choice will be taken by the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) new managing director Rob Key.

Stokes has been vigorously connected with the empty England Test skipper’s slot and spoken about the part too following his companion and colleague’s choice to venture down. The 30-year-old all-rounder figures that it will be a “enormous honor” assuming he gets the chance to lead the side.

Final Decision Will Be On The Shoulders Of Rob Key: Ben Stokes On His Captaincy Chances

“I know there will be lots of speculation around who will take over, and clearly as vice-captain and someone who has stood in on a few occasions my name will be strongly talked about,” Stokes wrote in his column for Daily Mirror.

“But all I will say is that it is a huge honour to captain England and whoever does it will get to enjoy that responsibility of trying to take the team forward.

“The decision will be down to Rob Key as the new managing director of men’s cricket and I’m sure we’ll talk soon enough, as he will with other players and support staff.

“It is an exciting time for us all, at the start of a new era for the Test team. I’m back in the nets now and training ahead of my first game for Durham in the next couple of weeks and I can’t wait,” added Stokes.

It Was An Emotional Conversation: Ben Stokes Remembers Chat On Call With Joe Root

Remembering the day when Joe Root told him that he was venturing down as England Test captain, Stokes said he was surprised a little. Root’s captaincy throughout the past 18 months had come in for analysis after his side could oversee only one Test win in 17 trips, with the most recent frustration coming as the 0-4 Ashes whipping followed by a 0-1 defeat in the away Test series in the Caribbean.

“When my phone started ringing and I saw Joe’s (Root) name flash up, I didn’t know what to expect. But when he said: ‘Mate, I just wanted to let you know before it becomes official…’ I knew what was coming.

“As you can imagine it was quite an emotional conversation, but it wasn’t a long chat, there will be time for that in the future. This was an emotional few minutes and in return there was nothing but love, respect and support from me because that is what Joe Root has shown me throughout his time as England Test captain.

“When I took my break from the game in 2021 (due to mental health issues and finger injury), Joe was brilliant. The cricket came second; his concern was for my well-being.

“And going back a few years now to the Bristol incident, that was where my captain really went to bat for me. That is where my total loyalty towards Joe comes from, and he will always have it because he has never been anything but a good man towards me and the rest of his players.”

We Are Lucky To Have Him: Ben Stokes Praises Former Captain

Joe Root captained England more than any other player in Test history, winning more matches as skipper (27) yet in addition losing more (26) than anyone else. Furthermore, having ventured down as captain, Joe Root can now hope to proceed with his staggering form with the bat, form that saw him score a bigger number of runs in 2021 than any English men’s batter had in any past calender year, procuring him the ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year trophy.

“Now that he has stood down, I fully expect him to continue his brilliance with a bat in hand and show why he is the greatest batsman we’ve ever produced,” Stokes said. “We are lucky to have him and he’s still got so much to offer English cricket.”

England will face New Zealand in a three-match test series starting from the first week of June. The first match will be played at the Lord’s.

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