Two of the world’s greatest all-rounders in Ben Stokes and Jason Holder shall be captaining their respective sides when England face the West Indies in the first Test at Southampton starting Wednesday. Holder tops the ICC’s Check all-rounder rankings, with fellow paceman Stokes in second place as worldwide cricket resumes for the first time since March 2 following the coronavirus lockdown. They each common within the 30s with the bat, with Holder’s bowling mark of 26.37 barely extra economical than Stokes’ 32.68. However whereas Holder, 28, is a seasoned skipper, Wednesday’s match would be the first time the 29-year-old Stokes has captained a cricket team since he was a teenager.
England’s talisman has been thrust into the position, with common skipper Joe Root lacking the sequence opener to attend the start of his second baby.
Tempo-bowling all-rounders Ian Botham and Andrew Flintoff noticed their particular person video games decline with the cares of the England captaincy.
The priority is that one thing comparable will occur to Stokes, a key determine in England’s World Cup triumph last year when his spectacular century additionally noticed the workforce to a exceptional win over Australia in an Ashes Check at Headingley.
It appeared any likelihood of Stokes turning into England captain disappeared when he was charged with affray following an incident outdoors a Bristol nightclub.
However after being discovered not responsible at a 2018 trial, he regained a place of accountability as Root’s vice-captain.
“After that occurred it was ‘proper, what am I going to do from this level ahead?,” Stokes stated final week. “I am fairly proud to say I am on this state of affairs (of being England captain) by exhausting work and dedication.”
‘Get on high of Ben’
Holder was made captain of the West Indies’ one-day facet aged simply 23.
A 12 months later he was put accountable for the Check facet in opposition to a backdrop of administrative chaos that included bitter rows between senior gamers and directors.
Sympathy for his plight has generally overshadowed recognition of his cricketing talent.
Holder, nevertheless, confirmed his class with an unbeaten double century in opposition to England within the first Check at his Barbados house floor throughout a 381-run win final 12 months that despatched the West Indies on the way in which to a sequence victory.
“Hopefully Jason can do what’s essential to get on high of Ben on this first Check,” stated West Indies coach Phil Simmons.
Promoted
“Jason has performed sufficient Check cricket now to know what he is engaged on and, mentally, he is the place he needs to be.
“I believe Ben is one in all them who leads from the entrance. That is to be proven by all his exploits earlier than in cricket and we must guarantee that we get on to him very early, as a result of he likes to do what is important for his workforce.”
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