Joe Root admitted that Ben Stokes ignored his advice on workload management during his tenure as England’s captain.
Joe Root Reveals Ben Stokes’ Relentless Mindset as England Captain
Joe Root has made a striking revelation about Ben Stokes, describing his former deputy as someone with an unwavering desperation to be the man who makes things happen. Stokes, widely regarded as one of England’s greatest match-winners, has produced iconic performances in the ODI and T20 World Cup finals, along with unforgettable Test victories. Since taking over from Root as captain—with Brendon McCullum as coach—he has transformed England into a bold and fearless red-ball side.
Root admitted that during his tenure as skipper, Stokes ignored his advice on workload management but defended his approach, saying Stokes knows his body better than anyone.
“You can try, but it doesn’t make any difference. I tried for five years,” Root said.
“I mentioned it, but he doesn’t always listen to me. He didn’t listen when I was captain! That’s his call now. It was an incredible effort, but that’s just how he’s built. He’s desperate to be the man and make things happen. It’s a great sign for us because that’s back to his best. He’s got that mentality and desire to win games, and we’re lucky to have him as our leader,” Root added.
‘I was just panicking…’: Joe Root
Despite recurring knee issues, Ben Stokes has consistently battled through pain to deliver in crucial moments. In the third Test at Lord’s, where England secured a narrow 22-run victory over India, Stokes played a pivotal role with the ball. He bowled a marathon 44 overs—his most in nearly six years—and finished with 3/48 in the second innings, dismissing key batters KL Rahul and Jasprit Bumrah on the final day. His relentless effort earned him the Player of the Match award and inspired the team.
Joe Root admitted he feared Stokes might break down but now trusts his judgment.
“I was just panicking that he wasn’t going to make it through the game after a couple of bad injuries, but he clearly trusts his body now,” Root said. “He knows what he’s doing and has a good handle on where he’s at physically,” he added.
