Stokes wants fans to fall in love with England again

All-rounder Ben Stokes has been named vice-captain - the role previously held by Root – as part of the changes and he hopes the pair can bring the excitement back after momentum dipped towards the end of Cook's tenure.

Published : Feb 15, 2017 22:45 IST

"We need people to fall in love with it again," Stokes said to Sky Sports.
"We need people to fall in love with it again," Stokes said to Sky Sports.
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"We need people to fall in love with it again," Stokes said to Sky Sports.

Ben Stokes wants the public to fall in love with England again, promising an entertaining brand of cricket after Joe Root's appointment as Test captain.

Root was named as England's new captain on Monday, replacing Alastair Cook after the opening batsman's record 59-match reign at the helm.

All-rounder Stokes has been named vice-captain - the role previously held by Root – as part of the changes and he hopes the pair can bring the excitement back after momentum dipped towards the end of Cook's tenure.

"We need people to fall in love with it again," Stokes said to Sky Sports . "We need to win but we want to perform in a manner that makes people want to come and watch us.

"Every team goes through transition but I hope we can be influential in taking the team forward. Cooky started us on that path, Rooty was part of that as vice-captain and now we can carry that on.

"We have the same direction of where we want to take the team." Stokes disagrees with critics who have raised concern over Root's lack of captaincy experience and age, having landed the role at just 26.

"I have always believed that Rooty was going to be captain," he said. "The biggest thing is having respect of the people you are in charge of. He has that and respect goes a long way.

"He is the right person and the best person to do it. He is a colleague but also a close mate and I was chuffed to bits for him.

"Getting the news that I would be his vice-captain made me ecstatic. It is a real honour. It is England vice-captain, it is supporting Rooty, but it is also the recognition from him and the people at the top of the ECB.

"Everything I do is to win and being vice-captain won't change me as a person or as a player. Being vice-captain I will have to bring a mental and supportive side too. If I am not involved in the game then I will have to add my tactical input."

England is not back in Test action until July, when it plays the first match of a four-game series against South Africa at Lord's.

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