Ben Stokes on a mission to mould England Test Team

Veteran all-rounder Ben Stokes has been named as the new Test captain of England who took over the reins from Joe Root.

Ben Stokes in a file photo. (Image credit: Twitter)
By Shurti Banerjee | May 3, 2022 | 3 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

England cricket team has been going through a transition stage where they will have a new coach as well as a new captain of the Test team. Veteran all-rounder Ben Stokes has been named as the new Test captain of England who took over the reins from Joe Root. However, after five years he stepped down after facing a huge bash following their recent poor form in the longer format. Notably, they won only one game in 17 Tests and also finished at the bottom of the World Test Championship table and Stokes said that he wants to lead a team of “selfless” cricketers as he plans England’s revival after getting the new responsibility.

“It is a challenge, especially after the last few years” – Ben Stokes

However, Stokes’s first match as captain will be against the World Test champions New Zealand, where they will play a three-match Test series at Lord’s on June 2. Meanwhile, he also accepts that turning England’s fortunes will be tough for sure. “It is a challenge, especially after the last few years,” the Durham star said to Sky Sports at the northeast county’s Riverside headquarters on Tuesday. “There’s a lot that needs to change, not only on the field, and those discussions will be had.”

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“I want to have selfless cricketers who make decisions based on what they can do to win a game in that given time,” he said. “You’re always judged on winning games, and the decisions I make are based around the best thing to do to give us that chance. I want to have 10 other guys with me who are in that same mindset.”

“I’ve been through a lot of goods and have been through a lot of bads” – Stokes

However, Ben Stokes, the fierce all-rounder faced a lot of things – be it on the field or off the field. He was arrested after a late-night incident in Bristol in September 2017 and then he had to miss the tour of Australia before being cleared as well. “There’s a lot of things that I’ve gone through since I became a professional cricketer, and those experiences I feel are positive in this new role that I’ve got,” Ben Stokes shared this to the BBC in a separate interview. “I’ve been through a lot of goods and have been through a lot of bads and I feel like I can relate to both sides of what this sporting life can throw at you.”

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Notably, Ben Stokes took a break from cricket to focus on his mental health whereas many cited the example of Ian Botham and Andrew Flintoff as proof of the uncertainties of appointing an all-rounder as England captain as well. But Ben Stokes admitted that he is not trying to be either of them as well. “I’ve had to deal with comparisons to Andrew Flintoff and Sir Ian Botham since I was 18 or 19. And I’ve always said I’m not trying to be either of them, I’m just Ben Stokes,” he concluded.





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