Ben Stokes has asserted that English cricket is lucky to have Joe Root, who still has so much to offer with the bat. The all-rounder, who has been heavily linked with the vacant England Test captain position after Root decided to step down last week, spoke about Root’s contributions to his career.
Many former English cricketers have highly recommended Ben Stokes for the vacant position of the England Test captaincy. Joe Root was in charge of the post previously, but he decided to step down last week after a poor run of form. Notably, Root captained England in Test cricket more than any other player in their history, winning more matches as captain (27) but at the same time, losing more (26) than any of them.
Stokes, while writing in his column for the British newspaper the Daily Mirror, revealed how he got to know about Root’s decision and his major contributions to making him an improved cricketer.
“When my phone started ringing and I saw Joe’s 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, Stokes wrote in the Daily Mirror.
“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, 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.”
Stokes further added that Root will now be more relaxed and it would help him to continue his stunning form with the bat. The English all-rounder also believes that Root has still ‘so much to offer English cricket’.
“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. We are lucky to have him and he’s still got so much to offer English cricket,” he added.
Last year, Root scored more runs than any English men’s batter had in any previous calendar year. It helped him to earn the ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year award.
