The excitement drawn around witnessing Ben Stokes lead England for the first time has touched new heights every day. From his teammates to former English cricketers and captains, all have backed Ben Stokes to do an impressive job as the skipper.
And Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar is the latest one to step forward and shed light on Stokes’ approach as a leader. The 29-year-old all-rounder will lead England in the opening match of England’s home season in Southampton and is the 81st Test captain of the nation.
With Joe Root deciding to skip the first of the three Tests against the West Indies, the ECB installed their Test vice-captain as the stand-in-skipper. And after his heroics in the 2019 World Cup and Ashes, admittedly the focus is dead set on Stokes.
Sachin Tendulkar has no doubts on Ben Stokes’ decision to lead from the front like he always does. The 47-year-old has even backed the New Zealand all-rounder to put on a defensive approach when the team needs it.
Tendulkar went on to mention that as long as one has controlled aggression, it can produce desirable results and the southpaw has that in his repertoire.
“He is someone who is going to lead from the front, we have seen that on many occasions. He is aggressive, positive and when he has to be slightly defensive he is prepared to do that for the team. I always feel controlled aggression produces results and so far whatever I have seen, the aggression has been there but it is controlled. So this is what I think of Ben Stokes,” the Mumbai batsman said as quoted by Hindustan Times.
Sachin Tendulkar confident of Ben Stokes coming in the league of Andrew Flintoff and Ian Botham:
Sachin continued by hailing Stokes’ for being mentally strong and emerging as a champion after what he went through three years ago. Tendulkar lauded his body language having seen it first and described it as uplifting and vibrant.
“For Ben Stokes from what he has been through in the recent past to where he is today it is a total transformation and it can happen only to someone who is mentally strong. When I first looked at him a few years ago, I could see his body language it was so positive and vibrant and that energy is infectious,” he added.
The leading run-getter in Tests and ODIs believes that in a few years, we will be treating Ben Stokes at par with the likes of Ian Botham and Andrew Flintoff and that he makes a significant impact on the field.
“I felt that he was one of those players where in time to come you look back and say Ben stokes, (Andrew) Flintoff, Ian Botham these are the leading all-rounders who played for England. I really rate him highly and his impact on the field is a major one,” he added.
