England Skipper Joe Root Happy For His Partnership With Ben Stokes In Test Cricket
Feb 19, 2017 at 4:00 PM
It’s story of old-good friends in cricket as recently announced Test skipper Joe Root and vice-captain Ben Stokes could turn out as the best partners for England in the long format cricket as leaders when they will take the field at Lord’s against South Africa in July.
“He [Ben Stokes] was a little podgy medium-pacer back then. He’s obviously a slightly different player right now,” Root was quoted as saying by AFP.
The 26-year-old Root met promising English all-rounder Stokes in Cumbria, in North West England while representing their respective team in an Under-12 tournament.
“We get on well outside of cricket as well. When we bat together we have a good understanding, and it will be exactly the same in these new roles,” Root said of Stokes.
However, to take part in the first-class game, Stokes had to shift to Durham – to come through a long way before making a healthy start at the international circuit.
“But he was always in your face, letting you know he was there – and that was great to play against. He’s very ‘in your face’, and sometimes you need that up-front brashness,” Roots added.
The Yorkshire-born Root has praised his teammate Stokes for showing the positive intent even before appearing at the international scene for England.
Root has lauded the efforts of the 25-year-old Stokes for England following the impressive run with the bat and a ball.
“That second-innings display from Bent, he ‘five-for’, the skill he showed, I am sure in any other Test match he would have got man-of-the-match,” Root remarked.
Stoke has proved himself while showing the grit, he has smashed the double hundred against South Africa in 2016 after picking 5-wicket haul in England’s 2015 Ashes campaign at Trent Bridge.
“Then, the way he played in South Africa was just incredible. Stokes is that sort of player that with the odd moment in the field can really change a game, turn it on its head.
Earlier, Root has nominated his deputy after he was appointed as the captain by Director of Cricket for England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).