One of the major questions that would be in the minds of England’s player before the start of the Test series will be regarding the vice-captaincy post.
Ben Stokes was appointed as the vice-captain of England after Alastair Cook resigned from the captaincy post, handing the mantle to Joe Root.
Stokes was appointed as deputy to him (Root) and performed the role during the series against South Africa and Windies.
The Bristol incident saw him being dropped from the Test side and also losing the vice-captaincy.
James Anderson stood as Root’s deputy during shes 2017/18 and when Stokes in back in the international arena, him gaining back his vice-captaincy post was one of the talking points.
Joe Root, the Test captain, has cleared that the matter has not been discussed yet,
“That’s a decision we’ve not agreed yet. I think when we get together as a group, me and Trevor will discuss a few things, but that’s not been discussed. It is what it is. The most important (thing) is in terms of Test cricket we look forward to this next series and make sure he can build momentum in this one-day series and keep putting in match-winning performances to give him confidence when he does come back to red-ball cricket,” he said.
Stokes was named in the Test squad announced earlier.
He has already landed in New Zealand to play the ODI and Tests series.
Despite speculations, he was included in the playing XI for the first ODI.
His heroics came in the second ODI where he was awarded Man of the Match for scoring 63* runs and taking two wickets as England chase down 224.
He is already part of the Test side and looks all set to be there in playing XI as well
The matter of him taking back his vice-captaincy post will be one of the things to watch out.
A decision on it is expected to be sorted out after the completion of the ODI series when England prepare for the Test series.
The two Test matches of the tour will be after the completion ODI series.
The first Test of the series will be played from March 22 to 26 at Eden Park in Auckland.
The second and the last game of England’s tour of New Zealand will be played at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.
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