Stokes backs Root-Fleming duo to flourish for England

Former England Test captain Ben Stokes has tipped Joe Root and newly appointed head coach Stephen Fleming, for success as England look to make amends in the current ICC World Test Championship cycle.

England currently sit in the seventh spot in the World Test Championship 2025-27 standings and take on Pakistan next at home in a three-match Test series.

“I wish him [Joe Root] nothing but success," Stokes told Jos Buttler and Stuart Broad on the For the Love of Cricket Podcast.

"I hope he goes on and achieves amazing things in his role as captain and I think he's going to really enjoy it with Flem [Fleming]. He's a great man.

“I've worked with Flem before but I told Joe, I said my only worry is just you. And that's all I really care about now, just because I have seen what he went through and how much he put himself through for someone.

“I'm sure he's going to do great. So I'm looking forward to seeing what the team does going forward.”

Stokes' comments come after Root returned to the England captaincy, with Fleming taking over as Test head coach following Stokes' sudden retirement and Brendon McCullum subsequently being relieved of his duties following the Test series defeat at home against New Zealand, marking the end to the high-flying Bazball era.

The former England captain further closed the door on a return as a player, making it clear that he would only consider playing for England again if he were leading the side.

“I never once thought, 'I'm just going to give it up and just keep going as a player,' Stokes said.

“I'm 35. If I'm not going to be captain, I think I'd find it tough to do it. Not saying because I'd find it tough to be led by someone else. I just think because I've given so much of this part of my career to my job, if I'm going to play for England it's going to be as captain.

“I was very comfortable retiring from playing and not thinking about playing for England.”

While a return to the England playing XI is not on Stokes' mind, he already has his sights set on another possible role with the national team in the future.

The 35-year-old is completing his Level Three coaching qualification and has ambitions of eventually moving into coaching once his playing career is over.

“I know what I want to do in terms of staying within the game - which is to be a coach," he added.

"I'm doing my level three coaching now while I'm still playing, because I want, when the day comes that I'm not playing any more, I'd love to be able to have all that stuff signed off and done.

“I love to be coach of England one day? Absolutely. I just really like the idea of being, again, like, in some form of leadership away from playing.”

Root's first assignment begins on 19th August in Leeds against Pakistan, with Fleming set to take over after the conclusion of the series. Former England opener Marcus Trescothick will act as the interim coach for the Pakistan series.