It would be a mistake to imagine Ben Stokes as long-term Test skipper: Michael Atherton

Former England cricketer Michael Atherton believes that Ben Stokes should not be thought of as a long-term captaincy potential straight away. Stokes has recently been appointed as England’s Test captain after Joe Root stepped down from the role earlier this month after the England Test team’s dismal run of late. The all-rounder has become the 81st Test captain of England and has the experience of captaining the limited-overs side in the past on a few occasions.

However, a lot of experts have already felt that all-rounders have traditionally not had the best success when it comes to captaincy. Stokes has been one of the consistent performers for England alongside Joe Root and has already accumulated 5061 runs in 79 Tests at an average of 35.89. He has played some match-winning knocks for the side in crucial times, notably in the Headingley Test in Ashes 2019 where he single-handedly won the Test for his side with an unbeaten 135.

Let him give the job his all for a short period of time: Michael Atherton

Atherton noted that Stokes should be confined to doing the leadership duties for a short period of time and should not be a long-term investment as it can hamper his performances as a player. He added that to lead England in Tests is one of the toughest jobs and hoped that Stokes can turn his hunger-to-win attitude into something extraordinary for England. Incidentally, Atherton himself has led England in 54 Tests between 1993 and 2001.

“It would be a mistake to imagine Stokes as necessarily a long-term pick. Having seen the way the job wears down even the toughest and flintiest of characters, there is no need for the same to happen to Stokes,” Atherton wrote in his column for The Times, as quoted by Mirror.co.uk.

“Let him give the job his all for a short period of time, hoping to help transform attitudes and approach, and then step away while he has more to give as a player,” he added.