CAPTAIN MARVEL

Cook puts Stokes among the greats

- by PATRICK AUSTEN-HARDY

SIR ALASTAIR COOK believes Ben Stokes will go down as one of the best England captains in history.

Stokes has led the Test team since 2022, when he joined forces with head coach Brendon McCullum.

Since then, the all-rounder has registered one of the highest win percentage rates in English cricket history, winning 22 of his 37 games as captain, though he has only drawn home series against India and Australia.

His side drew 2-2 in an epic contest with India this summer but Stokes missed the thrilling finale at the Oval due to injury.

This winter will be the first time he has led an England side to Australia, and Cook, who was Test captain from 2012 to 2017, thinks anything is possible with his old teammate as skipper.