The England and Durham all-rounder Ben Stokes has been confirmed as England’s new Test captain and will be firmly in place ahead of their next Test which comes at the beginning of June against New Zealand.
Joe Root announced his resignation from the role on Good Friday after leading the side to just one win in the last 17 Test matches.
The Yorkshireman had been England’s most successful captain with more Test wins than any other but the time had come for a change after a 4-0 Ashes defeat and 1-0 West Indies series defeat.
His successor has long been an English cricketing hero but the lows are not unknown to him either.
Stokes recently took time away from the game to focus on recovering from an ongoing finger injury as well as to prioritise his mental health.
In September, the 30-year-old announced he would be taking a break and returned to help see England through yet another soul-crushing series in Australia. He then went on to score his first century since his return during England’s second Test match against the West Indies knocking up 120 from just 128 balls - his first century since the death of his father in 2020.
With a few weeks to go before seeing the Ashes and World Cup hero in action, let’s take a look at some of the highs and lows that have shaped Ben Stokes into becoming England’s 81st permanent captain:
5. Last over 2016 T20 World Cup
A rare low in the career of Ben Stokes came in the final of the 2016 T20 World Cup. England were playing the West Indies and it came down to the final over. The West Indies needed 19 off the final over and Stokes on to bowl against a fired up Carlos Brathwaite. Managing somehow to place every ball in Brathwaite’s favour, the ‘Big Barbadian’ went on to hit four sixes in a row to take the title - leaving a crushed Ben Stokes with much to ponder. | Getty Images
6. Best bowling figures v West Indies 2017
Much is made of Stokes’ batting prowess, but it should not be forgotten that he has over 170 Test wickets too. His best ever Test figures came in 2017 during a match against the West Indies when he took 6-22 as the visitors fell for 123 all out. The first of these wickets also included a stupendous caught and bowled to leave Roston Chase bamboozled. | Getty Images
7. Nightclub Incident in Bristol
The lowest point in Stokes’ otherwise glittering career. Following an ODI against the West Indies, Stokes was arrested outside Mbargo Nightclub in Bristol. He was later found not guilty on a charge of affray 11 months later but had missed an Ashes series, lost the vice-captaincy and made the headlines for all the wrong reasons. | AFP via Getty Images
8. Catch at 2019 World Cup v South Africa
Stokes would go on help England win their 2019 World Cup Final against New Zealand but before he achieved this, he took one of the best ever World Cup catches. It was later said that had he been standing where he was told, the catch would have been much easier (but far less impressive!) so there was no option to not catch. Adil Rashid bowled to Andile Phehlukwayo and Stokes took a catch involving a leap, a twist and complete heroics - in truth, no description can do it justice. | Getty Images