This cricketer can lead England for the one-off test match against India at Edgbaston
Xtra Time Web Desk: England all rounder Ben Stokes is the frontrunner to replace Joe Root as the test captain. The Durham cricketer could walk in for the toss with India captain Rohit Sharma when both these sides face each other for the one-off test at Edgbaston in July. Root stepped down from the role of England's Test captaincy on Friday, thus bringing his five-year stint to an end. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is yet to announce his replacement.
Former England test captains have backed all-rounder Ben Stokes as his ideal replacement. Speaking on Stokes being Root's ideal replacement, Michael Vaughan told the BBC, "I don't see anyone else who could take the position and be guaranteed their place in the side. In Ben Stokes, you have clearly got someone who has got a smart cricket brain. He's going to give it everything. He is certainly going to respect the players around him."
Aanother England test captain Nasser Hussain in an interview to Sky Sports said, "The obvious candidate is Ben Stokes. Stokes has done some remarkable things as a cricketer and has a genius cricket brain. He showed that in the World Cup final, he showed that at Headingley. He showed that when he's taken over occasionally from Joe Root."
Michael Atherton, who led England in test matches said, "Just because of the scrutiny, you need to be worth your place in the side, so Ben Stokes is the obvious candidate. The one great defining characteristic of Ben Stokes is loyalty, and he's very loyal to Joe Root as his number two and terrific friend with him. He will feel a lot easier about accepting the job if indeed it comes his way."
