England are still 18 months away from their next tour Down Under but, if there was any doubt about the top priority of Stokes' captaincy, he removed it on the eve of the summer's first Test against the West Indies.
Today's game at Lord's marks a watershed moment in Stokes' reign, with 41-year-old James Anderson making a farewell appearance after a record-breaking run of 187 Tests and 700 wickets.
But that is not the only significant change forced through by a leadership group comprising Stokes, head coach Brendon McCullum and director of cricket Rob Key.
Jonny Bairstow has been dropped after exactly 100 caps, with wicketkeeper Ben Foakes also overlooked and Jack Leach axed as first-choice spinner.
This story is from the July 10, 2024 edition of Manchester Evening News.
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This story is from the July 10, 2024 edition of Manchester Evening News.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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