Stokes could be handed a dummy run at captaincy
THE impending arrival of Joe Root’s second child could see Ben Stokes complete his rebirth as a sporting hero by giving him a chance to captain England.
Adored by the public for his World Cup-winning heroics and Ashes displays last summer, Stokes, 28, may well lead England into their Test summer.
The West Indies’ three-match tour was confirmed yesterday, allowing cricket to finally get started after a lengthy delay due to coronavirus.
Hampshire’s Ageas Bowl will host the first Test from July 8, with two further matches at Old Trafford in Manchester.
Test captain Root returned to training at Trent Bridge yesterday in anticipation of the series but with his wife Carrie due to give birth in a few weeks, he may be watching cricket’s big return from the labour ward.
Root has no doubts righthand man Stokes would take the job in his stride, as he has everything else since being cleared of affray almost two years ago.
The dark days of a late-night incident outside a Bristol nightclub which led to that court case seem a long time ago and being entrusted with the captaincy would emphasise how far down the road to redemption Stokes – who was made an OBE in January – has come.
While superstar all-rounders like Sir Ian Botham and Andrew Flintoff have struggled with leading the national team, Root has every faith in a man he has seen pull off astonishing feats.
‘I think if Ben was captain he would be fantastic,’ he said. ‘One of his great qualities as vice-captain, and as a leader, is he sets the example. It’s the way he goes about his training, how he wants to bowl in difficult circumstances, the way he stands up in different scenarios with the bat. He drags people with him and gets the best out of the players around him.
‘That’s a great quality to have as a leader and something he can take into captaincy if he was to get the opportunity. He would have people wanting to play for him and short-term he would be a huge success.
‘Until you get the opportunity
Ben gets the best out of those around him; that’s a great quality
to do it longer, you just never know, it might be a huge success. I wouldn’t put it past him. I would never say Ben Stokes can’t do anything, he’s pretty much proved that over the last couple of years.’
As for Root’s situation, the strict maintenance of a ‘biosecure bubble’ at each venue means he would not be able to go back and forward to hospital during a five-day match.
‘The start of July is the due date, so that complicates things,’ said Root. ‘In terms of the bubble and the pregnancy, it’s an evolving thing. It’s being discussed with the medical team and we’re always trying to stay up to date with it.
‘It will have to come down to government advice. We’ll follow those protocols and do whatever is right.’