Captain Stokes wants his best all-rounder

For most of the 12 years he has spent as a first-class cricketer, the prospect of Ben Stokes becoming England Test captain had seemed fairly remote.

Ben Stokes at The Riverside in Chester-le-Street Picture: Getty Images

For most of the 12 years he has spent as a first-class cricketer, since word first began to spread of his prodigious all-round feats at Durham, the prospect of Ben Stokes becoming England Test captain had seemed fairly remote.

As a genuine all-rounder, that most precious of cricketing commodities, there was the glaringly obvious danger of compromising the team’s most important player with too much responsibility, a painful lesson England had learnt from the brief captaincy stints of Ian Botham and Andrew Flintoff.

There was also the waywardness that had created disciplinary problems: sent home from an England Lions tour in 2013 and then cleared of affray after the notorious brawl outside a Bristol nightclub four years later.

Over the course of his career, during which he has played 156 first-class matches, Stokes has been captain in only one, the four-wicket Test defeat by West Indies in Southampton in 2020.

But times change, the hot-headedness of youth cools with age and Stokes has set out a clear-sighted plan to revive England’s Test fortunes and to prove that his appointment as Joe Root’s successor is not the gamble that some perceive it to be.

For a start, he has opted to shift himself down the order to No.6, one place lower than he has been batting since 2019. This is not so much to ease his workload as to maximise his chances of excelling as a fully fledged all-rounder. There had been suggestions that Stokes may evolve into more of a batsman who bowls, particularly after the knee injury that flared up during the recent Test series in the Caribbean, but he intends to continue with both bat and ball.

“I know that I’m at my best for England when I’m doing both (roles) as much as (each) other,” he said. “I feel that going back to No.6 is going to allow me to concentrate on those roles, rather than worrying about one whilst doing the other. I feel that’s best for the team.”

At the same time, he recognises that his all-round workload will have to be monitored.

“That’s something I’m going to have to really focus on,” he said.

“I’ve got great senior players around me, it would be stupid and naive of me not to include them in decisions out on the field. It’s something I thought I managed very well in my Test (as captain) against West Indies.”

Is he mindful of the experiences of Botham and Flintoff in this regard? “One thing I’ve had to deal with since I was 18 or 19 is comparisons to Andrew and Ian Botham,” he said. “I’ve always said I’m not trying to be Andrew or Ian Botham, I’m Ben Stokes.”

The concerns about Stokes’ workload apply not just in a purely cricketing sense, but also in the knowledge that he took a break from the game last year to look after his mental health.

He continues to consult a psychologist, but believes his experiences should only enhance his leadership qualities.

“I took my break back then because I needed to,” he said.

“I spoke with someone and I will continue to do that. I see not just that scenario but a lot of scenarios before that, on-field stuff, off-field stuff I’ve been through, is a positive for me now, because I feel like I can relate to anything. If any of the players might be struggling with something, I’ve been that person in the dressing room and it’s not just younger players, but senior players should feel like they can talk to me. I hope that doesn’t change now I’m captain.”

Before he leads England out as permanent Test captain for the first time, against New Zealand at Lord’s on June 2, Stokes has much on which to mull, in conjunction with Rob Key, the new managing director of men’s cricket.

He has made clear that James Anderson and Stuart Broad, controversially discarded for the West Indies series, would be available for selection, while he will have input into the choice of a new Test coach.

“The main thing is that me, Rob and the coach all have the same vision going forward for this Test team,” he said.

“Myself and Rob, we’ve had chats and they have been very aligned.”

The Times