All-rounder Ben Stokes was on Thursday named the captain of England’s men’s Test team by the England and Wales Cricket Board. The development comes after Joe Root resigned from the post earlier this month after a spate of losses, which included a 0-4 thrashing in the Ashes at the hands of Australia. England are at the bottom of the points table of the current cycle of ICC Test Championship.
“Durham’s Ben Stokes has been appointed captain of the England Men’s Test team by the England & Wales Cricket Board. He succeeds Joe Root in becoming the 81st captain of the England Men’s Test team. The ECB Interim Chair and Chief Executive Officer approved the appointment on Tuesday evening following the recommendation by the Managing Director of England Men’s Cricket, Rob Key,” ECB said in its official release.
Among Stokes’ big challenges will be to try and win the postponed fifth Test match against India in July this year to avoid a first home series defeat versus India in 15 years.
Stokes, considered to be one of England’s biggest match-winners across formats, takes over from Root, who put an end to his leadership stint of five years. Despite the recent losses, Root left the job as England’s most successful Test captain.
