Image Source : BCCI.TV Insisting that he was privileged to have handed over Root his a centesimal Test cap, Stokes stated a successful begin to the four-Test sequence could be an ideal present for Root.
Joe Root is without doubt one of the finest batsman on the planet, an unimaginable athlete and above all, an inspirational captain, is how England vice-captain Ben Stokes described his skipper on the momentous event of his a centesimal Test match.
Insisting that he was privileged to have handed over Root his a centesimal Test cap, Stokes stated a successful begin to the four-Test sequence could be an ideal present for Root.
“I’ll certainly be doing whatever I can with bat, ball and in the field over the next five days to try and secure the win that we all desperately want in the first Test against India,” he stated.
“It would be the perfect way to round off a very special few days for Joe (Root).” Root continued his pink sizzling kind and hit a century towards India on his a centesimal Test right here on Friday.
“What a proud thrill it was to be asked to present our captain Joe Root with his 100th cap in a team gathering before the game. These are special moments that you carry with you through your career and it was great to be able to mark the moment with a few heartfelt words,” Stokes wrote in a column for the Guardian.
“For most individuals, Joe is an unimaginable athlete, one of many perfect batsmen the sport has seen, and an inspirational captain and chief.
“But for some he is also just Joe who is a kind and thoughtful person and a down-to-earth lad from Sheffield who happens to be really good at cricket,” he added.
Describing Root’s down-to-earth, pleasant behaviour additional, Stokes cited an instance when the English skipper stood by his facet throughout a low section in his life after being concerned in a brawl exterior an evening membership in Bristol.
“There was no higher instance of this for me than a couple of years in the past once I was going by a nicely documented interval in my life that was fairly powerful.
But regardless that he had a lot on his plate as England captain and with an Ashes tour to play in, not as soon as did he distance himself from me, fairly the alternative,” he stated.
“At those times, he wasn’t my captain, he was my friend. It was a time when I didn’t have a huge amount of support from too many people, but Joe had my back so I’ll always hold him in the highest esteem with the way he handled that situation.”
Stokes was referring to his involvement within the nightclub brawl in Bristol in September 2017 in the course of an ODI sequence towards the West Indies. That incident led to the all-rounder lacking the 2017–18 Ashes and the second Test match towards India resulting from subsequent trial. He additionally misplaced his attire sponsorship with New Balance.
“And that wasn’t just publicly in the media, but in private too. He was going through his own tough time down in Australia but he stayed in constant contact and that meant a huge amount to me,” Stokes stated referring to Root’s help.
“It is why in situations where he needs me, I will do anything I can for him. If people wonder why I’d run through a brick wall for him, it is because of this.”
Stokes stated he was proud to be Root’s deputy as they make a great crew.
“I couldn’t be more proud to be his vice-captain, a position that looked a long way off not too long ago, but even on this issue his loyalty towards me has never wavered,” he stated.
“I like to think we make a good team and we have different skills that can hopefully work well to help the team.”
