Michael Atherton
Cricket Knowledgeable & Columnist
Ben Stokes will communicate to the media for the primary time as England’s new Take a look at captain on Tuesday morning; Michael Atherton: “If there isn’t any coach in there, it is going to be an opportunity for Ben to completely seize maintain of it, mould the staff and say that is the best way we will run issues”
Final Up to date: 02/05/22 9:12am
Former England captain Michael Atherton believes Ben Stokes was the plain selection to interchange Joe Root as England skipper
Ben Stokes will handle the media for the primary time as England’s new Take a look at captain on Tuesday, with Michael Atherton excited on the prospect of the talismanic all-rounder moulding the staff in his picture.
Atherton, who captained England 51 occasions between 1993 and 1998, described Stokes as “the plain selection” to succeed Joe Root within the position following his appointment final Thursday.
Stokes’ first sport in cost will probably be towards New Zealand at Lord’s from June 2, the primary sport in a three-Take a look at sequence towards the Black Caps.
Rob Key, the brand new managing director of England males’s cricket, stated he’s “optimistic” a brand new head coach will even be in place forward of first Take a look at of the summer time, however Atherton doesn’t consider that’s important.
Managing director of England males’s cricket, Rob Key says that Ben Stokes was the standout candidate to change into Take a look at captain
“Ben Stokes will probably be his personal man; he has acquired an opportunity to form that staff now and take it in a special route,” Atherton informed Sky Sports activities Information.
“There will not be a coach in place in time. This stuff undergo a course of; I feel Might 6 is when job functions shut and June 2 is the primary Take a look at match. That is fairly tight.
“That is not a foul factor in my opinion. I do not suppose since Sir Andrew Strauss that an England captain has actually grabbed maintain of a dressing room.”
Atherton pointed to Stokes’ reintegration into the Take a look at aspect in 2015 after a spell out because of type and health, which noticed him thrive within the first two Exams of the summer time towards New Zealand below interim coach Paul Farbrace.
The appointment of Trevor Bayliss was introduced halfway via that drawn sequence, one through which Stokes smashed the fastest-ever Take a look at century at Lord’s, from 85 balls – in addition to a first-innings 92 – and claimed three wickets in a match-winning efficiency within the first Take a look at.
Atherton added: “If there isn’t any coach in there, it is going to be an opportunity for Ben to completely seize maintain of it, mould the staff and say ‘that is the best way we will run issues.’
“When Farbrace was interim coach earlier than Bayliss got here in, that was truly when Stokes got here again into the aspect, so it is not a catastrophe if a coach shouldn’t be in place by June 2.”
Nasser Hussain has urged Stokes to ‘do it his personal means’ as England Take a look at captain
‘Proper name to separate teaching roles’
As for who must be the person to ultimately lead the England Take a look at staff going ahead, Atherton couldn’t be drawn on a reputation, although he did add that he was happy to see England trying to make two appointments – in red-ball and white-ball cricket.
“Who ought to or not it’s? My goodness, the entire candidates which were talked about are excellent. Gary Kirsten is an excellent candidate, Simon Katich a superb candidate. There will probably be any variety of folks.
“It is the correct factor although to separate, or look to separate, the job. Years in the past I stated on Sky that England wanted to think about cut up teaching roles.
“You take a look at the schedules now, they’re so crammed, it is very troublesome for one man to do all the pieces.
“In the midst of the summer time, England will probably be in Amsterdam for some one-day internationals in the course of a Take a look at sequence. How does one man plan for that? It is unattainable.
“Final yr when England have been in Dubai taking part in the T20 World Cup, the Ashes have been developing two weeks later. Unattainable.
“Seeking to cut up tasks is precisely the correct technique to go. Two distinct teaching staffs for Take a look at cricket and limited-overs cricket, that can make life a lot simpler.”