Stokes is backed to be able deputy for Root

Ben Stokes’s likely elevation to the England captaincy for the first Test against the West Indies has won Stuart Broad’s full support.

England are resigned to Joe Root not being able to lead out the side with his wife Carrie due to give birth this week. But Broad believes Stokes would make an able deputy.

“I have no doubts he will be brilliant at captaining England,” said Broad. “He has got a really good cricket brain, and has grown and matured incredibly over the last three or four years.”