Prime Minister Boris Johnson has endorsed Ben Stokes ' appointment as England 's new Test captain, describing the all-rounder as an "inspirational player".
Stokes has replaced former skipper Joe Root, who resigned earlier this month after five years in the job. After his appointment was officially confirmed on Thursday, Stokes said: "I am honoured to be given the chance to lead the England Test team. This is a real privilege, and I'm excited about getting started this summer.
"I want to thank Joe for everything he has done for English Cricket and for always being a great ambassador for the sport all across the world. He has been a massive part of my development as a leader in the dressing room, and he will continue to be a key ally for me in this role."
And Johnson has congratulated Stokes on his appointment, backing the 30-year-old to 'lead the England men's team back to the place it should be'. A spokesman for the Prime Minister said: "The Prime Minister would want to congratulate Ben on his appointment as the England men’s Test captain.
"It is an appointment he backs wholeheartedly. He is an inspirational player, an example to many people, and the Prime Minister is confident that he will lead England's men's team back to where it should be."
Stokes has previously captained England once in Test cricket, taking charge of a game against the West Indies at the Rose Bowl in 2020 with Root on paternity leave to attend the birth of his second child. And England's new Managing Director of Men's Cricket Rob Key said he was "delighted" that Stokes had accepted his offer to succeed Root.
"I had no hesitation in offering the role of Test captain to Ben," Key said. "He epitomises the mentality and approach we want to take this team forward into the next era of red-ball cricket.
"I am delighted that he has accepted, and he is ready for the added responsibility and the honour. He thoroughly deserves the opportunity."
England's first Test of the summer will see them take on New Zealand at Lord's on June 2, with Stokes hoping to get off to a winning start. And both James Anderson and Stuart Broad are in line for recalls, having been controversially dropped after the Ashes.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Key revealed: "Before it was announced that I was doing this job, I rang them up and said in my opinion they're both available for selection.
"I told them, 'I can't promise you're going to play but you're available' and Ben Stokes has been very clear he wants Jimmy and Broady to come back in. It will purely be done on what is the best XI to win a Test match and if they're in that – there's every chance they will be because they're very good bowlers – they will be.
"They just want to continue on this journey they've been on and they didn't want it to finish in the way it possibly might have done. They were very happy and pleased to be up for selection."
