"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," Stokes wrote in his Daily Mirror column
Ben Stokes has recounted his "emotional conversation" with Joe Root when his good friend called him to say he was to step down as England Test captain.
Root's exit from the role was confirmed on Good Friday after nearly five years at the helm. During his tenure he both won and lost more Tests than any previous incumbent.
However, following a miserable winter during which England were hammered 4-0 in the Ashes and then lost 1-0 in the Caribbean led to Root reconsidering his position.
"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," Stokes wrote in his Daily Mirror column, about the chat he had with Root.
Ben Stokes has written about the conversation he had with Joe Root when his friend told him he was quitting the England Test captaincy [Gareth Copley/Getty Images]
"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.
Stokes is expected to become the new full-time Test skipper in the coming days.
The allrounder has experience of leading the red-ball side, having filled in for Root when the Yorkshireman was on paternity leave in the summer of 2020, and will have to juggle the combined pressures of batting in the middle order, fulfilling the enforcer role with the ball, and managing the side tactically, negotiating the media, and leading by example.
He will certainly benefit from having Root in his ranks, however.
Root has stood down from the role after nearly five years [Gareth Copley/Getty Images]
The 31-year-old already has the second most runs of any England Test batsman and Stokes has backed his colleague to push on with the weight of captaincy off his shoulders.
"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," Stokes wrote.
"We are lucky to have him and he's still got so much to offer English cricket."
As for the chances of him succeeding Root, Stokes remained coy.
"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," he wrote.
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