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Ben Stokes mentioned he was “proud” to be able the place he may exchange Joe Root as England skipper against the West Indies, despite the fact that he has not captained a aspect since he was a young person. Vice-captain Stokes may discover himself main out the crew for subsequent week’s first Test at Southampton — or later within the three-match sequence — ought to Root be absent attending the delivery of his second little one. But the highly effective all-rounder mentioned he would settle for the “huge honour” if it got here his means. “Even if it’s only the once you can still say ‘yeah, I’ve captained England’,” he informed a convention name on Monday.
Stokes was restored to his place as Test vice-captain in July 2019, almost a 12 months after being discovered not responsible of affray following an incident outside a nightclub.
“After that happened it was ‘right, what am I going to do from this point forward?,” Stokes informed Sky in a separate interview as he recalled the incident. “How am I going to carry and conduct myself?’
“I’m fairly proud to say I’m on this state of affairs via arduous work and dedication. I needed to get higher and it has been no fluke.”
But Stokes, who last led a cricket team aged 16 for Durham Academy, insisted captaincy had never been on his list of priorities.
“I’ve by no means set a aim to wish to be a captain,” explained the 29-year-old.
“Alastair Cook was all the time destined to be England captain after Andrew Strauss. Joe Root was all the time destined to be captain after Alastair Cook.
“If I’m being honest, I’m not one of those that people would necessarily associate (as) the next England captain.”
‘Nine slips and a gully’
With Stokes already England’s star all-rounder, pundits together with former captain Kevin Pietersen have mentioned he doesn’t want the additional accountability of captaincy as effectively.
But Stokes, who jokingly mentioned he would have “nine slips and a gully” as captain, insisted management wouldn’t boring his attacking strategy.
Last 12 months he performed a key position in England’s World Cup triumph earlier than scoring a shocking century at Headingley to win an astounding Test victory over Australia.
“Even if I am in charge that’s not going to change the way that I go about things, in terms of how I want to influence the game, which is try to make a positive effect with the ball or bat in my hand,” he mentioned.
One drawback for Stokes, as fellow pace-bowling all-rounders Ian Botham and Andrew Flintoff found after they had been England captain, could possibly be deciding on when to bowl himself.
“It depends if it is a flat wicket or not. If it is flat I will throw the ball to Jofra (Archer), Jimmy (Anderson) and Broady (Stuart Broad) and say ‘here you go’,” he joked.
“I guess I will have to be a bit more mindful if I am the one making that decision.”
Promoted
England will choose a aspect from a 30-man squad at the moment coaching at a bio-secure Southampton, with a three-day intra-squad match — their lone warm-up fixture — beginning on Wednesday.
National selector Ed Smith and his panel will decide the crew however England captains, nevertheless, historically have an affect upon the ultimate XI and Stokes admitted: “I might not have as many friends after this Test match.”
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