Former England captains heap praise on Ben Stokes

Speaking on Sky Sports, Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain praised the England skipper's tactical nous and positive mindset

Former England captains Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain have heaped praise on Ben Stokes following the bright start to his tenure as Test skipper.

England have won back-to-back Tests for the first time since February 2021 under Stokes’ leadership, completing a pair of entertaining five-wicket wins against New Zealand at Lord’s and Trent Bridge, and could claim a third at Headingley.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Hussain lauded Stokes’ "tactical nous" while Atherton believes Stokes was "born" to be a captain.

"Here is a man who had only captained one red-ball game before but here is a man who I think has been incredibly impressive as a captain in three matches," said Hussain.

"This man's body language and his tactical nous in these three games have been outstanding. If you are watching from above as a fan, you know who is in charge of this England cricket team, it is Ben Stokes without a doubt.

^{Michael Atherton [Stu Forster/Getty Images] and Nasser Hussain [Gareth Copley/Getty Images]}

"He is constantly keeping going, he is constantly, with a smile on his face, with great body language, no anger, just getting people in the right position at the right time.

"I enjoyed his reaction to Bairstow's hundred, he understood the moment, he understood Jonny Bairstow, he understood Headingley, he understood what this ground meant to Jonny Bairstow and if anyone got this moment it was the England skipper.

"I am not bigging this bloke up, we have been there and we have built them up to knock them down but from what I have seen, tactically, here is a bloke that completely understands the game and completely gets captaincy.

"Tactics, nous and instinct are things that have almost gone out of the game. Because you have so many members of backroom staff, it becomes captaincy by committee and a group decision. I want a captain that thinks on his or her feet, makes his or her mistakes, as it is about gut feel."

Atherton added: "Ben Stokes had done very little captaincy otherwise so you can't say that he is somebody who has had massive experience in leadership but I just think he has got it.

"I think it is a born, innate thing with some people. It is early days and it is easy to go overboard but I agree with what Nasser said there, his attitude, he is a winner and wants to win, he has instilled a positive mindset and mentality into an England team that had its struggles for a year or two.

"If you marry that with the instinct and feel for the game he has, then you have got somebody who can lead the side. I think he has made an outstanding start."