Ben Stokes expects 'good friend' Joe Root to continue great run with bat

All-rounder favourite to take over as England Test captain

England captain Joe Root is consoled by Ben Stokes after losing the third Test - and the series - against West Indies at the National Cricket Stadium in Grenada on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Getty

West Indies players celebrate after winning the three-match series 1-0. Getty

Dejected England captain Joe Root after the match. Reuters

West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite celebrates after defeating England by ten wickets on Day 4 in Grenada. AP

West Indies' Kraigg Brathwaite and John Campbell celebrate after beating England. AP

West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite batting on Day 4. Getty

West Indies bowler Kemar Roach successfully appeals for the wicket of England's Jack Leach. Getty

West Indies fielder Jason Holder, right, celebrates after taking the catch to dismiss England's Chris Woakes. AP

England batsman Chris Woakes of England walks off the field after being dismissed by Kemar Roach for 19. AFP

West Indies wiciketkeeper Joshua Da Silva celebrates taking the catch to dismiss England's Jack Leach for four. Reuters

Ben Stokes has backed Joe Root to continue his run-scoring spree with the bat, offering his England team mate "nothing but love, respect and support" after his decision to quit Test captaincy.

Root stepped down recently, saying the job had taken a heavy toll on him recently, after dispiriting tours of Australia and the Caribbean capped a string of poor results.

Root, 31, is England's second-highest Test run-scorer of all time, behind Alastair Cook. His tally of 5,295 runs as skipper is the highest by an England captain. He scored 1,708 Test runs in 2021, including six centuries.

"Now that he has stood down, I fully expect him to continue his brilliance with a bat in hand and show why he is the greatest batsman we've ever produced," all-rounder Stokes wrote in a column for the Daily Mirror.

"We are lucky to have him and he's still got so much to offer English cricket."

Stokes thanked Root for his support as captain, saying their relationship went "deeper and further" than just team mates and they have been "good friends" for a long time.

Stokes said Root called him to inform of his decision. "As you can imagine it was quite an emotional conversation, but it wasn't a long chat, there will be time for that in the future," he continued.

"This was an emotional few minutes and in return there was nothing but love, respect and support from me because that is what Joe Root has shown me throughout his time as England Test captain."

England appointed former batter Rob Key as the managing director of the country's men's cricket team while Stokes, who was Root's deputy, has been tipped as a favourite to become the next captain.

"I know there will be lots of speculation around who will take over from him, and clearly as vice-captain and someone who has stood in on a few occasions my name will be strongly talked about," Stokes added.

"But all I will say is that it is a huge honour to captain England and whoever does it will get to enjoy that responsibility of trying to take the team forward."