Ben Stokes has been named England’s new Test Captain.
Ben Stokes, England’s outstanding all-rounder, has won the race to replace Joe Root as the country’s next Test captain.
The England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) named Stokes as the new Test captain on Thursday, following Root.
“It’s an honour to be given the opportunity to captain the England Test squad.”
“This is an incredible honour, and I’m excited to get started this summer,” Stokes said.
“I’d want to thank Joe (Root) for everything he’s done for English cricket, and for always being a tremendous ambassador for the game throughout the world,” he said.
“He’s been a significant part of my development as a locker room leader, and he’ll continue to be a key ally in this capacity.”
Rob Key, the newly appointed Managing Director of England Men’s Cricket, has made his first move since his appointment earlier this month.
“I have no reservations about appointing Ben as Test captain,” Key said.
“He personifies the mentality and approach we want to take as we lead this group into the next era of red-ball cricket.”
“I am ecstatic that he has agreed, and I am certain that he is up to the extra responsibility and honour.” “He is more than deserving of this chance,” he said.
Following England’s 1-0 Test series loss to the West Indies in the Caribbean, Root stepped down as Test captain, leaving Stokes with a lot of work to do to get his side off the bottom of the World Test Championship points table.
England has battled for consistency since the start of the 2021-2023 World Test Championship, with a series loss in the West Indies followed by a disastrous Ashes campaign in Australia.
One of Stokes’ first tasks will be to put together England’s strongest Test XI, although whether experienced seamers James Anderson and Stuart Broad are selected remains to be seen.
The two were not chosen for the West Indies trip, but they may be considered for the next Test series against New Zealand and South Africa, as well as the rescheduled Test against India.
England is now ninth and last in the World Test Championship rankings, with a 12.50 win-percentage, courtesy to their lone Test victory in the 2021-2023 season against India at Headingley last year.
