According to England’s cricket chief, Stokes can lead a revival of the ‘talented’ team

LONDON (AFP) – Despite a dismal run of results over the past 14 months, England cricket chief Rob Key believes a “talented” Test side under new captain Ben Stokes can become a force again.

Talismanic all-rounder Stokes was named Thursday as the successor to Joe Root, a close friend, in Key’s first major announcement as England men’s team managing director.

The 30-year-old Stokes takes over with England at a low ebb following an Ashes thrashing in Australia and a demoralising series defeat in the West Indies.

England, the world champions in the white ball, 50-over format, have dropped to seventh in the international Test standings after winning just one of their last 17 games.

But Key, who batted for England in 15 Tests, was positive about the future, claiming that much of England’s recent problems were due to the added demands of playing during the coronavirus epidemic, such as having to operate in bio-secure bubbles.

“We can make judgments, we can develop fantastic cricketers, and county cricket can continue to be a breeding ground for great international cricketers,” Key told reporters at Lord’s on Thursday.