Ben Stokes insists he would never consider taking on the England Test captaincy because of the detrimental effect the job could have on his cricket.
The all-rounder was re-instated as Joe Root’s vice-captain on the eve of last summer’s Ashes series after he lost the role 18 months earlier. That followed the street brawl that saw him stood down from the 2017-18 tour of Australia and forced him to successfully defend a charge of affray in August 2018.
Since then, his heroics for England during this summer’s World Cup Final against New Zealand and the Headingley Ashes Test, when his unbeaten century sealed a remarkable one-wicket win against Australia, have seen him installed as favourite for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.
Like legendary England all-rounders Ian Botham and Andrew Flintoff, Stokes is a leader within the dressing room and would be a popular choice among his peers to succeed Root.
Botham and Flintoff’s time in charge of England, though, were shambolic and despite telling The Times this week the captaincy is “not something I could ever say no to”, Stokes has since distanced himself from the job. “That’s not an aspiration of mine,” he told the BBC’s Today programme. “It’s just not one of those things I’m desperate to do. I’m very happy being vice-captain, we’ve got a great leader in Joe [Root].
“Being the Test captain — so much pressure comes with it. Everything falls back on you, especially if it goes bad, and you never know how you’ll handle that pressure until you walk out as captain.”
Stokes, who took two for 64 on the first day of England’s final warm-up game against New Zealand A in Whangarei, also admitted he would like to become a coach when his playing career ends.
He said: “I can’t ever see myself just completely disconnecting myself from the game. But I’m still only 28, I have plenty of years in the tank hopefully.”
Meanwhile, New Zealand fast bowler Lockie Ferguson says he will aim to rough up England if given his Test debut in Mount Maunganui next week.
Ferguson, who has played 36 ODIs, looks set to get his chance after being called into the squad for the two Tests against England and the three in Australia that follow.
“Part of my role is to bring a bit of anxiety from bowling extra speed,” he said. “England have quick bowlers, too, it does the same thing to both teams.
