Ben Stokes vows to be ‘advocate’ for mental health as England captain

Ben Stokes has revealed how the help of a therapist paved the way for his ascent to the England Test captaincy and has vowed to be an “advocate” for mental health in the role.

Stokes was the overwhelming candidate to succeed Joe Root when he stood down over Easter, but just last summer he faced an uncertain future as he took a four-month hiatus from the sport.

That decision was brought on by the physical and psychological demands of international cricket and he later admitted he felt in a “dark place” and was “battling difficult thoughts”.

Now, meeting the media for the first time since becoming his country’s new skipper, Stokes opened up about the professional assistance he sought – and is still seeking – to win that battle.

“With the mental side now, a lot of negative things can be written about it, but I took my break back then because I needed to,” he said.

“I spoke with someone and I will continue to do that. It’s a regular thing. I have been a massive advocate for this area since I took my break and I will continue to do that. I have that experience to talk to anybody, whoever they may be, if they feel like they need to. The hardest thing to do in the first place is to talk to somebody.

“If anyone might be struggling with something, I have been that person in the dressing-room. I see it as positive that I’m in this role having gone through what I went through last summer. I hope that doesn’t change now I’m captain.”

For Stokes to use his initial leadership platform in such a way was a striking thing for the 30-year-old to do, and a more notable break with convention than his decision to hold the briefing at Durham’s Riverside Ground rather than the more traditional setting of Lord’s.

Stokes shunned the usual ECB