Ashes 2019 | Being named as England vice-captain is pretty cool, says Ben Stokes

The all-rounder had lost his vice-captain’s cap after being arrested for a brawl in Bristol, in September 2017. Buttler had been acting as captain Joe Root’s deputy. However, he was only too happy to pass the baton back to his mate, when ECB director of men's cricket Ashley Giles and chief executive Tom Harrison recommended Stokes' position restoration.

"I love having that responsibility and it is something that I thoroughly enjoy doing. I take pride in being vice-captain. Being part of that think-tank is pretty cool. I think it (The Ashes) would have been just as exciting anyway. Playing in an Ashes series is always special and they don't come around that often but being named vice-captain again was very good words to hear when I got the call,” Stokes told AFP, reported TOI.

Stokes was withdrawn from the last series against Australia in 2017-18, after the police had him arrested over the events in Bristol. Going forward, Stokes reckons his good relationship with Root will help in the proceedings.

"I am very good friends with Joe as well, off the field, and as much as I can do to help him through his career, not just as a captain but as a player as well, I am really looking forward to that challenge,” he said.

Of course, the all-rounder comes into the Ashes high on confidence. His mature batting in the World Cup-winning campaign was there for all to see. Perhaps the man-of-the-match performance in the final provided the best evidence of that. 

"Everything is sort of on the Ashes now. We have had that time to let everything sink in and reflect on that amazing seven weeks we have had in the World Cup, but the World Cup was half of the journey that we wanted to achieve this summer and the other half is winning the Ashes. It is going to be a busy six weeks. Five Test matches against Australia isn't easy," Stokes added.