Experiences can help me, says Stokes
BEN Stokes hopes the ups and downs of his England career will help him make a success of the Test captaincy.
Stokes was announced as Joe Root’s successor last week and will begin his reign against New Zealand at Lord’s next month.
It marks one of the proudest points in the 30-year-old all-rounder’s journey, during which he has produced unforgettable performances and endured major challenges.
He was arrested after a latenight incident in Bristol in September 2017 and went on to miss an Ashes tour that winter before being cleared on a charge of affray, bouncing back to inspire England’s World Cup win in 2019.
Asked how his experiences had changed him over the course of his journey, Durham ace Stokes said: “There are a lot of things I have gone through since I became a professional cricketer and those experiences I feel are positive in this new role I have.
“I have been through a lot of goods and have been through a lot of bads and I feel like I can relate to both sides of what this sporting life can throw at you.
“I see everything I have gone through as a positive and you can relate to people if that is good or bad.
“I don’t see anything I have gone through as a negative.
“If anything, I see it as a way I can always try and help people.”
England’s Test team have managed just one victory in their last 17 attempts and Stokes admits he faces a challenge to turn around results.
He added: “It is an exciting time for myself to be appointed as captain.
“It is a challenge, especially after the last few years.
“For me it is not about focusing on what has gone in the past, it is focusing on what we have going forward. That starts now.”