Stokes to be named England skipper

BEN STOKES will officially be announced as England Test captain at Lord’s today after receiving the green light from the ECB board.

His appointment was made by new managing director Rob Key, who offered the Durham all-rounder the job on Tuesday when the pair met face to face in England’s north-east. And Stokes, 30, was only too happy to accept the role and succeed Joe Root as skipper.

It’s the first major move made by Key but there are several more to come with two new head coaches – Test and white ball – and a national selector next on his list. Gary Kirsten and Simon Katich are among the frontrunners to fill the Test job.

But it’s the appointment of Stokes that will come as a shot in the arm for the misfiring Test team who are languishing at the bottom of the World Test Championship.