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:
9. 2019 World Cup Final v New Zealand
England were edging closer and closer to a defeat at the 2019 cricket World Cup Final, but out came Stokes who saved his team and took the side to probably the most exciting ends to a final ever. He scored 84 not out, many of which were scored in a 110-run partnership with Jos Buttler, before scoring another eight in the Super Over and helped England to lift the trophy for the first time in history. | Getty Images
10. Headingley Heroics 2019
This has to be his greatest ever moment, surely? Stokes not only saved the Test match but saved an all round Ashes defeat. England looked doomed and needed another 73 runs when Jack Leach came in as the last man but the pair of them put on a stand which saw Leach score one run (not out) and Stokes go on to make 135*. The word “yesssss!” was all the commentator could say after such an innings and everyone who saw that final day knew they had witnessed one of the best ever innings in the sport. An iconic, golden moment. | Getty Images