Former captain Ben Stokes expresses confidence in Joe Root and Stephen Fleming as England prepare for a crucial Test series against Pakistan.
Former England Test captain Ben Stokes has thrown his support behind Joe Root and newly appointed Test head coach Stephen Fleming, expressing confidence that the pair can guide England into a successful new chapter in red-ball cricket.
As England seek to recover from a disappointing start to the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle, Stokes believes the experienced duo is well-equipped to lead the team forward.
England are currently placed seventh in the WTC standings and will begin their next challenge with a three-match home Test series against Pakistan.
The series will also mark the beginning of Root’s second stint as England’s Test captain, while Fleming is set to officially assume coaching duties after the Pakistan series concludes.
Speaking on the For the Love of Cricket podcast alongside Jos Buttler and Stuart Broad, Stokes praised Root’s leadership qualities and expressed optimism about his partnership with Fleming.
He said he wished Root every success in his return as captain and believed the former skipper would enjoy working closely with the highly respected New Zealander.
Stokes also revealed that his biggest concern was always Root’s well-being rather than the pressures of captaincy itself.
Having witnessed the emotional and mental demands Root experienced during his previous tenure, Stokes said he hoped his successor would receive the support needed to thrive in the role.
The leadership changes come after Stokes’ unexpected retirement from Test cricket and the conclusion of Brendon McCullum’s coaching tenure following England’s home Test series defeat to New Zealand, bringing the celebrated “Bazball” era to an end.
The 35-year-old also ruled out any possibility of returning to the England side solely as a player. Stokes explained that if he were ever to represent England again, it would only be in the capacity of captain, adding that he had made peace with his retirement from international cricket.
Looking beyond his playing career, Stokes confirmed his ambition to remain involved in the game through coaching. He is currently completing his Level Three coaching qualification and admitted that leading England as head coach one day would be a dream.
According to Stokes, he enjoys leadership roles and hopes to continue contributing to English cricket from the dressing room once his playing days are over.
England’s home series against Pakistan begins on August 19 in Leeds, with former opener Marcus Trescothick serving as interim coach before Fleming officially takes charge, ushering in what many hope will be a successful new era for England’s Test team.