Ben Stokes feels the opportunity to captain England is a great honor

England talisman Ben Stokes says captaining his country even once in his career would be a “great honor,” but he admits it was never a massive ambition.

The ATV is set to lead the team in the first Test against the West Indies on July 8 and Captain Joe Root will likely miss the game to attend the birth of his second child.

“I’ve thought about it a little bit, but I haven’t dipped into it yet,” he said Monday in a virtual press conference on Monday.

“I mean, it’s not that it’s not a big deal. Having the opportunity to captain England is a great honor. Even if it’s just once, you can say you captained England.

“So it’s something I’m looking forward to if the opportunity presents itself. But I also know that I’m only stepping in to take the reins because of Joe’s personal situation.”

Stokes has matured from his well-chronicled disciplinary problems and was inspiring when England won the World Cup last year. He is now the trusted vice-captain of Root.

He said the last time he captained a team was during an academy game against Scotland when he was a teenager.

“I never set a goal to want to be a captain,” Stokes said. “If you look at Alastair Cook, he was destined to be the captain after Andrew Strauss and Joe Root was destined to be the captain after Alastair Cook, you know who will be next when you reach the end of your career.”

“If I’m honest, I’m not one that people would necessarily associate with being the next England captain.” But I’m waiting for the opportunity to do it. ”

In case Stokes is the captain next week in Southampton, a match being played in a bio-secure stadium with no fans due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he says he will be well prepared.

“Being able to learn from Cookie and Joe Root in different situations in the game has infected me and will put me in a good position for all the situations that a Test match can throw at you,” he said.

“At the same time, we have some experienced guys in the field that I can use like Jimmy (Anderson) and (Stuart Broad) Broady, lots of people to throw out ideas.”

Stokes said that being a captain or not, his style will not change.

“I always try to lead by example in terms of commitment and attitude,” he said. “When it comes to what to do in a situation, it will always be a positive route.”