Ben Stokes would lead from the front like Virat Kohli – Joe Root

England Test captain Joe Root has full belief in the leadership abilities of his deputy Ben Stokes. Root will miss the first Test match against the West Indies due to the birth of his second child and thus Stokes will lead the Test team for the first time. Joe Root feels Stokes would lead from the front like Indian captain Virat Kohli.

 

Stokes is known to give 120% on the field and he is aggressive in his approach. The all-rounder plays the game hard and he would like to tick the right boxes. Similarly, Indian skipper Virat Kohli is known to play with intensity and he expects his teammates to give their best. Root believes Stokes is going to match Kohli in the leadership style.

 

Ben Stokes has been in the form of his life and he would like to take the same confidence into his captaincy. However, Root is expected to return for the second Test match.

 

“You know Virat (Kohli) goes out there and performs and expects everyone to go and do the same within the same team and I imagine that’s how Ben will go about his business,” the premier English batsman said in a chat show on Sony Ten’s ‘Pit Stop’.

Stokes had recently stated that he would take the challenge to be Scottie Pippen to Joe Root’s Michael Jordan. However, Root believes that Stokes would make a better Michael Jordan than him.

 

“I think Ben is better… Ben would make a better ‘Michael Jordan’ than me. He (Stokes) has a great quality, leads from the front, just as Michael Jordan did you know,” Root quipped.

“He’s already a big leader in the team as the vice-captain…There’s a huge amount of respect for him. He has obviously accomplished so much within the game and within Test cricket that he’s more than well enough equipped to do a really good job.”

Ben Stokes has all the experience under his belt and he would like to hit the ground running. Stokes will aim to get the best out of every player in the side.

 

The first Test match will be played at Ageas Bowl, Southampton from July 8. The second and third Test match will take place at Old Trafford, Manchester from July 16 and July 24 respectively.  Stokes will lead England for the first time in his career and the all-rounder will need to make sure that the hosts’ don’t miss the services of Root as a captain.

 

England have announced a 30-member training group for the three-match series. Moeen Ali has returned to the squad and he would look to make it into the team.