I’m The Scottie Pippen To Joe’s Michael Jordan: Ben Stokes All Geared Up To Lead England

England allrounder Ben Stokes is confident of doing a good job as captain as he gears up to lead England in the first Test against West Indies. England will host West Indies for a three-match Test series next month. Regular captain Joe Root will miss a good part of the series in order to be with his pregnant wife.

In his absence, Ben Stokes will have the responsibility of leading the Test side. Historically, England allrounders have struggled with captaincy. Legendary players like Ian Botham and Andrew Flintoff failed to make an impression as the captain. However, Ben Stokes is confident of changing the trend.

As per him, he is the ‘Scottie Pippen to Joe’s Michael Jordan,’ which means that even though the England allrounder will have his own way of leading the team, he will ensure Root’s absence is not felt.

“I’m the Scottie Pippen to Joe’s Michael Jordan. It is his team. But what would be the point of asking me to do the job if not for this kind of situation,”  Ben Stokes wrote in his Daily Mirror column.

“I understand where Joe is taking the team and how he wants to lead it. So although I’ll make my own calls on the field and do the job as I see it as the game evolves, everything else will very much be the same as when Joe is there,” he added.

Ben Stokes was stripped off England’s vice-captain after the Bristol brawl incident but was reinstated before last year’s Ashes. Ben Stokes has been one of England’s best performers in the last 12 months or so and will be keen to keep performing in the same manner.

Meanwhile, Root has already expressed his confidence over Ben Stokes doing a good job as a captain.

“One of his great qualities as vice-captain and as a leader is that he sets the example. The way he goes about training, how he wants to bowl in difficult circumstances, the way he stands up in different scenarios with the bat – he drags people with him,” Root had told reporters.

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