Ben Stokes Given Captaincy Charge In First Test Against West Indies: ECB
Jul 1, 2020 at 1:05 PM
Finally, Ben Stokes has been appointed England’s captain for the first Test in the three-match Test series against West Indies starting from 8th July. England and Wales Cricket Board(ECB) officially released the statement which read the allrounder would captain in Southampton in the absences of regular Test captain Joe Root.
Joe Root would not participate in the first Test as he expecting his child’s birth during that time. According to ECB’s safety guidelines, the Test captain would have to go seven days self-isolation after he leaves his family from the hospital.
“Durham all-rounder Ben Stokes, who has been Root’s Test vice-captain since his appointment last July, will captain the side for the first time in Southampton,” the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said in a release.
“Root will commence a seven-day self-isolation period at home once he leaves hospital with his family. He will join up with the England squad ahead of the second Test at Emirates Old Trafford on Monday 13 July,” the ECB stated.
Ben Stokes has never captained in first-class cricket:
The World Cup winner Ben Stokes was restored as the Test vice-captain in July 2019, nearly a year after being found not guilty of charges held during the fight in a nightclub. He has never captained the Test team, however, he has successfully fulfilled his duty as the vice-captain.
Jos Buttler, who is the deputy of Eoin Morgan in white-ball cricket, will assist Stokes in the first Test match against Caribbeans.
Ben Stokes had early said that he was proud in the position to lead the England team even in one match. He was the star performer for the team in the World Cup 2019 triumph as well as he scored a stunning century at Headingley to win an astounding Test victory over Australia.