Ashes 2021-22: Ben Stokes Would Actually Grow As A Player If He Was The Captain Of England – Ricky Ponting

Updated - 08 Jan 2022, 09:07 PM

Ricky Ponting. Image- Twitter

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Legendary Australia captain Ricky Ponting feels that the English all-rounder Ben Stokes would grow as a player if he becomes captain of the England National Cricket Team.

Joe Root-led England have performed terribly and have already lost the 5-match Ashes series by losing the first three games. England lost the first match by 9 wickets at the Gabba, the second game by 275 runs at Adelaide Oval and the third game by an innings and 14 runs at Melbourne Cricket Ground. England are trailing by 0-3 in the 5-match Test series. Currently, the Three Lions are focused on avoiding a whitewash.

After Root’s poor performance as a skipper, many cricket pundits have suggested that Ben Stokes should take over the captaincy responsibility after the marquee Ashes series.

Meanwhile, talking to cricket.com.au, Ponting said that Stokes is the only person who can take over Test captaincy from Joe Root. He also said that the added responsibility would help Stokes become an even better player.

“I think Stokes would actually grow as a player if he was the captain of that side,” Ponting said.

“The only person that can take over is Ben Stokes. I think with a bit of extra responsibility, he might become an even better player and that might have a good impact on the rest of the team,” he added.

I Think He’d Be The One That I’d Be Looking At To Lead The Team – Ricky Ponting On Ben Stokes

Pointing was asked about the changes he would like to see in the England cricket set-up, to which he replied by saying that he would be looking at Stokes to lead the Test side and it will give England ” a bit more of a heartbeat and a bit more soul”.

“It just sits well with some and doesn’t with others. I don’t know Ben Stokes that well, but if I was trying to change the face of English cricket and trying to give a bit more of a heartbeat and a bit more soul, then I think he’d be the one that I’d be looking at to lead the team,” he said.

Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow. Photo- Twitter

Pointing was highly impressed with Stokes for his amazing performance on Day 3 of the SGG Test against Australia.

“Even with what we saw yesterday, to stand up under that much physical pain says a lot about him, and his teammates will thrive off that. Anyone that plays underneath him, I’m sure will grow an arm and a leg,” Pointing asserted.

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