Following Joe Root‘s recent decision to resign as England Test captain, England all-rounder Ben Stokes has been named captain. According to reports, Rob Key, the Managing Director of Men’s Cricket, travelled to Durham on Tuesday for a face-to-face meeting with Ben Stokes to discuss the role. England’s one-win streak in 17 Tests prompted Root to resign after five years in charge.

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Given the dearth of genuine options, Ben Stokes was already the clear favourite to succeed Joe Root, according to an article published by inews.co.uk. Stokes’ selection as England’s Test captain was confirmed on April 28.

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Durham’s director of cricket, Marcus North, has endorsed Ben Stokes for the role. North stated in his comments, “He’s a match-winner, he has moments of absolute brilliance and wins games on his own. That’s someone that you naturally, as a team-mate, will be inspired to play with and to follow.”

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“He’s someone that wears his heart on his sleeve and gives everything he’s possibly got for England when he plays. That’s always a great quality in a leader and I have no doubt that if he gets the opportunity and he wants to take that opportunity, he’ll have the whole dressing room behind him,” North said. 

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Ben Stokes was previously Joe Root’s deputy. The all-rounder previously guided England to a 3-0 ODI series triumph over Pakistan with a youthful side last summer, when the original squad was forced to withdraw due to COVID. England lost their only Test with Stokes as stand-in captain to the West Indies at home in 2020.