Australia legend Ian Chappell believes that Ben Stokes can learn a lot from England's successful T20 World Cup campaign which can help "advance his Test leadership".
Stokes has enjoyed a dream start to life as England's new Test captain, having guided them to six wins in seven after taking over the side that had won just one of their last 17 games. And after deciding to retire from ODI cricket, he returned to England's T20 side after an absence of more than a year to help them win the World Cup and become double champions.
He played a match winning innings in England's last Super 12 game against Sri Lanka to ensure they reached the knockout stages, before seeing them over the line in the final with an unbeaten 52 against Pakistan.
Both innings were slow by T20 standards, with Stokes striking at just over a run a ball in each of them. And Chappell believes they "should convince Stokes that at times he needs to bat with a little more caution" in Test cricket after he spent the summer trying to attack from ball one with mixed results.
"He really rose to the occasion in the final at the MCG, when he steadily piloted England towards the trophy with an innings of steely resolve," Chappell wrote in his latest column for ESPNcricinfo.
"This was not the scintillating Stokes of his match-winning knock at the 2019 Headingley Test, or even the master batter who helped England clinch their first 50-over World Cup the same year. This was the sensible cricketer who sized up the occasion and did what was required to ensure England claimed another trophy.
"Having achieved wonders in his debut season as Test captain despite playing some reckless innings, this knock should convince Stokes that at times he needs to bat with a little more caution in the longer format.
Chappell also feels Stokes' reputation as a "miracle worker", having now played crucial innings in two World Cup wins and the memorable success at Headingley in the 2019 Ashes, will be "invaluable" for him as he continues to develop as a captain.
"England need Stokes playing well and contributing his best when it matters most," he added. "Stokes is evolving as a captain and has also produced enough magical performances in the heat of battle to be considered a miracle worker by his team-mates.
"This is invaluable for a captain. Being a smart cricketer, Stokes can now advance his Test leadership by shrewdly assessing those aspects of a successful T20 World Cup campaign that attracted his attention."
