Ben Stokes should be appointed England’s test skipper, replacing Joe Root: Ricky Ponting: Swashbuckling all-rounder Ben Stokes is the only viable player who can replace Joe Root as England’s test skipper and turn the fate of the team says former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting.
Ponting’s statement came after England’s meek surrender against Australia to lose the all-important Ashes 2021-22. Root hasn’t been able to run the team as the skipper, though, he has fantastically contributed with the bat.
Root has been under immense pressure and under scrutiny following England’s third consecutive loss against Australia. England has already missed out on the Ashes trophy and the team is, currently, only batting to save the fourth test match.
“The only person that can take over is Ben Stokes,” Ponting told Cricket Australia’s website.
Australia’s World Cup-winning captain, Ricky Ponting, reckons Ben Stokes to evolve better as a player if he gets the extra responsibility to lead the team.
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“I think Stokes would actually grow as a player if he was the captain of that side. I think with a bit of extra responsibility, he might become an even better player and that might have a good impact on the rest of the team,” Ponting said.
“I don’t know Stokes that well, but if I was trying to change the face of English cricket and trying to give a bit more of a heartbeat and a bit more soul, then I think he’d be the one that I’d be looking at to lead the team.”
It must be noted that former England skipper Micheal Atherton has also considered Ben Stokes as the only probable option to replace Joe Root post England’s dismal performance in the ongoing Ashes 2021-22.
However, Ben Stokes has backed his skipper Joe Root to remain the leader of the pack despite the calls of Yorkshireman to step down from his role.
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