Root happy to rely on friend Stokes
Leeds: When Joe Root leads England out for the first time as Test captain he will be able to turn to a familiar face in Ben Stokes. Yorkshire batsman Root first came across Stokes in an Under-12s tournament when the all-rounder was representing Cumbria. Stokes may have had to move to nearby Durham in order to pursue a first-class cricket career, but Root reckons many of the fiery all-rounder’s enduring traits as a player were on show from an early age. And knowing him as well as he does, Root was happy to nominate Stokes as his vicecaptain after he himself accepted the top job last weekend following the resignation as Test skipper of Alastair Cook. England and Wales Cricket board director Andrew Strauss, himself a former England captain, was of the same opinion as the leadership of the side moved decisively to a younger generation ahead of the teams next Test, against South Africa at Lord’s in July. “He was a little podgy medium-pacer back then. He’s obviously a slightly different player right now,” said Root. — Agencies