SKIP TO IT STOKES
Ben’s up for leading role Growing call to play ball LEWIS TELLS F1 TO STEP UP
BEN STOKES has vowed to captain England the way he plays – leading by example with total commitment to positivity.
That is what brings him the most satisfaction, it is how he has the most fun on a cricket pitch, and standing in for Joe Root will not change that.
England captain Root is set to miss the first Test against West Indies, which starts on July 8 at Hampshire’s Ageas Bowl, to be with his wife at the birth of their second child.
Stokes said: “I hope that I always try to set the example in terms of attitude and commitment towards what I do. Having the added responsibility of being a captain also comes with pressure.
“If I am in charge that’s not going to change the way 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.
“No matter what I do in terms of choosing what to do in a situation, it will always be the positive route.
“Getting the opportunity to captain England is a huge honour – even if it’s only the once you can still say, ‘Yeah, I’ve captained England.’
“I’ve been a senior player in the team since 2016 under Alastair Cook so being able to learn from Cookie and Rooty in different situations has rubbed off on me and will put me in good stead.”
The comic book image of Stokes is one of superhuman feats, smashing fours and sixes off every ball and charging in taking wickets from every run-up without even thinking but he does, of course, think about things.
He might not be up until late studying tactics and strategies, but in the under way in Austria this weekend.
In addition to changing the colours of their car, defending world champion Hamilton and team-mate Bottas will also race in black overalls with both drivers adapting their helmet designs.
The call to ‘End Racism’ will feature on the halo of Mercedes cars while the united F1 initiative #Weraceasone will feature on the mirrors of the W11 – which was originally heat of the battle he has a forensic eye for detail in terms of what is required.
That is how he managed to produce the World Cup Final and Headingley Ashes magic last summer.
Those are the skills he will bring to the captaincy and he wants a say in making sure he’s got the right men alongside him for the job.
“When it comes to the crunch, I would quite like to have a decent say in terms of the final eleven that will be walking out onto the field,” he added.
“I feel like you could pick 16 guys but you can only pick 11. Which is a great place to be in.
“So what guys do in training and in our three-day warm-up will have an influence on who gets the nod.”
NATIONAL hero Ben Stokes has joined a growing chorus telling the Government to restore recreational cricket or risk losing kids from the sport.
The England star said it was “strange to comprehend” rulings that allowed pubs to open from Saturday but did not allow local cricket to restart.
And he agreed with his international team-mate Mark Wood, who said a lost summer could see cricket miss the next superstar of the game.
Stokes has friends desperate for a U-turn in order to get the grassroots game up and running.
“For club cricket to be put back but pubs back open on designed to be silver before Mercedes unveiled their new look yesterday.
With Mercedes also reiterating their intention to make a stand against racism, discrimination and pledging to improve diversity of their team, Hamilton said: “When I spoke to Toto Wolff about my hopes for what we could achieve as a team, I said it was so important that we stand united.
“It’s so important that we seize this moment and use it to educate ourselves
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Saturday is a bit strange to comprehend and I know that people are absolutely desperate,” he said.
“I have friends who play in the leagues in the North East and Cumbria who are just dying to get back out on the field.
“Everybody needs something and for people who love cricket they are just desperate to get back on the field and start playing and the quicker that happens the better.
“I don’t see why it can’t happen when you see the other things allowed.” whether you are an individual, brand or company to make real meaningful changes when it comes to ensuring equality and inclusivity.
“I have personally experienced racism in my life and seen my family and friends experience racism, and I am speaking from the heart when I appeal for change.
“We want to build a legacy that goes beyond sport.”
Team principal Wolff added: “Racism and discrimination have no place
COUNTY cricket will finally get to start on August 1. The England and Wales Cricket Board are now confident that protocols can be put in place across the 18 first class counties to ensure a safe return to the professional game.
The precise structure of the shortened season is still to be decided by the counties, but they will reach a decision on July 7, just after all teams have returned to training.