Ben Stokes lauds Joe Root for 'stepping up on the big occasions'

England captain Ben Stokes lauds Joe Root for ‘stepping up on the big occasions’ once more… after his predecessor’s superb hundred saw their new era get off to a winning start against New Zealand at Lord’s

  • Joe Root is the second England player after Alastair Cook to hit 10,000 Test runs 
  • Root finished unbeaten on 115 as Ben Stokes’s team knocked off a target of 277 
  • Hosts take a 1-0 lead to the second game against New Zealand in Nottingham

Ben Stokes hailed the man he replaced as Test captain after Joe Root got England’s new era off to a winning start with a superlative hundred against New Zealand at Lord’s.

Root, who became the second England player after Alastair Cook to pass 10,000 Test runs, finished unbeaten on 115 as Stokes’s team knocked off a target of 277 with five wickets in hand to take a 1-0 lead to the second game in Nottingham on Friday. It was only their second victory in 18 matches.

‘There is never any doubt about Joe stepping up on the big occasions,’ said Stokes. ‘We are very close: we’re not just work colleagues.

Ben Stokes (left) hailed Joe Root (right) after he got England’s new era off to a winning start

Root became the second England player after Alastair Cook (left) to pass 10,000 Test runs

‘To see the emotion of pure joy and happiness in his first game after stepping down was amazing. As emotional as it was for him, it was fantastic for me to see a very close friend walk off after leading England to victory. It was a great day.’

And Stokes was full of praise for wicketkeeper Ben Foakes, who contributed a calm 32 not out to a match-winning sixth-wicket stand of 120.

‘Joe walks off with all the plaudits, but Foakesy has to take a lot of the credit for the way he handled that pressure on the third evening, and the way he played this morning. They fed off each other. Both have played a huge role.’

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson described Root as a ‘special player’ after he became the 14th Test batsman to reach the 10,000-run milestone.

‘It’s an amazing achievement to join an elite list of the finest players in the history of the game,’ he said. ‘He’s done it with real grace and a sense of ease.’

Stokes was full of praise for his predecessor, as well as wicketkeeper Ben Foakes (left)




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