Stokes backs Buttler to remain white-ball captain | Print edition

Ben Stokes has backed Jos Buttler to remain England white-ball captain despite the heavy defeat to India in the T20 World Cup semi-final. The defending champions were hammered by 68 runs in Guyana, a third defeat in four matches against other Test-playing nations at the tournament in the Caribbean and the United States.

The surrender of the 2022 T20 title comes after a miserable defense of the 50-over World Cup in India last year, when England won just three of their nine matches.

“Jos is the man to lead that white-ball team forward,” Stokes told BBC Sport.

“He is a great leader. He has the respect of all the team members in the locker room.”

Stokes was man of the match when England won the 2019 50-over World Cup and played a key role in the success of the T20 final in Australia two years ago. The England Test captain came out of international retirement to play in the 50-over World Cup defence last autumn, but skipped the last T20 World Cup to continue his rehabilitation following knee surgery.

And despite England’s men failing to win at least one white-ball world title for the first time in five years, Stokes believes the team is making progress under captain Buttler and coach Matthew Mott.

“They did a great job reaching the semi-finals of a major tournament again,” Stokes said.

“Being part of the sport is about growing and progressing. There’s no shame in saying you’ve made it to the semi-finals of the World Cup.”

After rain forced the World Cup opener against Scotland, England were on the brink of elimination after a heavy defeat to Australia. But big wins over Oman and Namibia, along with Australia’s narrow defeat to Scotland, saw Buttler’s side through to the Super 8s.

Successes over the West Indies and the US, either side of defeat to South Africa, sent England into the last four, where they were outclassed by India, with just 103 runs chasing 172 on a low, spinning pitch. It means England’s defeat of the West Indies is their only win against another team playing Test cricket, with the remaining three wins coming against teams outside international cricket’s elite.

“It’s an interesting format, the T20 World Cup, which I’m not a big fan of because teams may or may not go ahead depending on the weather conditions,” Stokes added.

“When England were put under pressure, especially at the end of the group stage, they showed what a good team they were.

“India are a very good team, especially in the conditions the pitch provided. It gave India a huge advantage.”

Stokes, who was invited to address the England football team ahead of the ongoing European Championship, compared the criticism from the cricketers to the pressure Gareth Southgate’s team are under ahead of Sunday’s last-16 tie against Slovakia.

“Unfortunately that’s the way the English mentality is, they’ve come through it and they’re getting a lot of grief,” the 33-year-old said.

“I know what it is like. I think it comes down to expectations and everyone wants their team to do well.”

Stokes was speaking at Hawthorn Primary School in Newcastle, where he delivered a coaching session and answered student questions. The Durham man is backing calls from the England and Wales Cricket Board and four other national sports governing bodies for the government elected at the general election to guarantee every child at least two hours of physical education in schools every week.

Stokes is preparing for the first Test against the West Indies on July 10, the last for England’s leading wicket-taker James Anderson. At almost 42, Anderson is retiring from international cricket after Stokes, Test coach Brendon McCullum and director Rob Key told him England will look at younger pace bowlers.

Stokes was not interested in the reasons for that decision, but said: “I’d rather talk about the memories of Jimmy, what he is to the game and what he is to English cricket.

“He is a complete role model for all fast bowlers. The dedication he has shown to his craft is just phenomenal. He is an incredible professional, an incredible athlete and one of our greatest players to ever play the game.”

After a long-standing left knee problem limited his bowling, Stokes underwent surgery in November. During England’s tour of India earlier this year, Stokes bowled the fifth Test, his first competitive stint in eight months, and took a wicket with his first delivery.

He has since played two County Championship matches for Durham, bowling 63.1 overs and taking 15 wickets, and hopes to play a full role as an all-rounder for England in the home summer and beyond.

“Things are going very well,” he said of his recovery.

“I’m desperate to get back into it now. I’m raring to get going and walk out in an England shirt again. (BBC)