Just call Ben Mr Incredible, says delighted skipper Root

JOE ROOT hailed his ‘Mr Incredible’ after Ben Stokes inspired England to a sensational second Test victory yesterday.

The England captain was effusive in his praise for the remarkable Stokes, who followed the slowest of his ten Test centuries with a display of last-day pyrotechnics with the bat, before again excelling with the ball as West Indies were bowled out for 198. ‘He’s Mr Incredible,’ said Root after England had clinched victory in the last hour of a game that became a four-day Test when the third day at Old Trafford was washed out. ‘He even looks like the cartoon character, or at least he did until he got a bit thinner.

‘Everyone forgets how good his bowling was in that (Ashes) game at Headingley last year, but here he showed even more. ‘He’s more of a complete player now and he will have enjoyed this in a different way. ‘He’s a cricketer at the peak of his powers and at the peak of world cricket.

‘We are in the presence of greatness and there’s drive from him to get even better. ‘The sky is the limit and there’s no reason why he can’t keep performing so consistently.’ Stokes preferred to praise Stuart Broad and Dom Sibley for their roles in the win when asked if this was his most complete display, saying: ‘I just try to do whatever is needed. I give everything to the team, whatever is asked of me.’ Root insisted Jofra Archer had been forgiven for his breach of the biosecure regulations ahead of the Test.

Archer, who has been training on his own for the past two days, tested negative in the first of his two mandatory Covid-19 tests and is awaiting the result of the second before he is given the all-clear to rejoin England’s group. ‘It was disappointing from our side of things,’ said the captain. ‘But he’s been through a disciplinary procedure and he’s very remorseful. ‘Now it’s time for us to move on and consider Jofra available on Friday.’