Stokes was Root’s deputy during the latter’s tenure as Test captain and even led the team on one occasion.
Ben Stokes has replaced Joe Root as England’s Test captain and the entire cricket world is eager to see how the all-rounder fares in the role. After all, the Three Lions have endured a hard time in the longest format lately, winning just one of their last 17 Tests. The same prompted Root to step down from the leadership role and give the command to Stokes.
Meanwhile, England speedster Jofra Archer reckons the Test team might not even feel the transition as Stokes and Root have always worked closely. Notably, Stokes was Root’s deputy during the latter’s tenure as Test captain and even led the team on one occasion against West Indies. Archer featured in that Test match and he reckons there wasn’t really any change.
Ben Stokes and Joe Root have been so tight working together: Jofra Archer
“If and when I do return, it will be under a new captain in Ben Stokes, not that I think playing will feel much different,” Archer wrote in his column for The Daily Mail.
“Him and Joe Root have been so tight working together that we might not notice the transition and that was certainly the case on the one occasion I played under Stokes’s captaincy against West Indies in Southampton two years ago,” he added. Archer further lavished massive praises on Stokes, calling him a perfect role model.
“He is the best role model we have in English cricket because he always gives his best for the team and it encourages others to try to do that too. Everyone tries to copy him and raise their standards,” he added. It must be noted that Stokes, alongside Root, pulled out of IPL 2022 in order to grind in the County Championship and strengthen the Test team.
The southpaw is also set to make some major calls as he openly batted about the inclusion of James Anderson and Stuart Broad in the team. Notably, the two veteran pacers were dropped for the away Test series against West Indies earlier this year. Stokes has also shown great signs of form, scoring a 64-ball ton in his recent County Championship game against Worcestershire.
