<\/p>\n
Over the course of two hours chatting to his old friends Stuart Broad and Jos Buttler on their podcast, Ben Stokes sounded at peace with his decision to retire from England duty<\/a> five weeks ago. Dare we say it, refreshed and ready to go again.<\/p>\n Beyond playing for Durham and in franchise cricket, Stokes is \u201cdefinitely\u201d retired, however, and there was not even a hint of a possible U-turn when the home Ashes rolls around next summer. Nor, given his character, was this first interview since calling it a day ever going to be one stuffed with regret.<\/p>\n There was an admission from Stokes he put \u201cway too much\u201d on his own shoulders as England captain, rather than delegate to others. And there was a comment that the team could have communicated better in Australia last winter, not least when they tossed away a commanding position during the series opener<\/a> in Perth.<\/p>\n Stokes spoke openly about cricket\u2019s relationship with alcohol, insisting the sport \u2013 not just the England team \u2013 has a drinking culture out of step with increased professionalism. \u201c[It] has been the same since the 1980s,\u201d he said. \u201cAs the game has got better and better and better, that thing has just stayed around.\u201d<\/p>\n But, equally, he was never going to own up to too many of the team\u2019s shortcomings during the 4-1 Ashes defeat that English cricket is still struggling to shake off. Nor was he going to look back with much sheepishness regarding the farewell against New Zealand at Trent Bridge that many felt was a bit too self-indulgent.<\/p>\n Indeed, beyond the team\u2019s lack of game awareness at times, few decisions in the past year would have been made differently. Everyone was on the same page in Australia and there was no tactical divergence from Brendon McCullum. Noosa \u2013 the mid-tour break that invited headlines and questions about the team\u2019s penchant for a good time off the field \u2013 would be repeated.<\/p>\n But for all that this was to be expected from an all-action all-rounder who, like Ian Botham before him, prefers to forge ahead rather than look back, there were interesting elements \u2013 not least when discussing his successor as Test captain.<\/p>\n Stokes and Joe Root are as tight as you get in English cricket and needless to say there were best wishes as regards the future of the side. In Stephen Fleming, Stokes believes England have selected a \u201cgreat man\u201d, having worked with the New Zealander previously at Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League.<\/p>\n But, despite this hopefulness, Stokes also went on to share his concerns that Root is about to re-enter what became an \u201cunhealthy relationship\u201d with the job at the end of his first spell in charge \u2013 concerns that he is not alone in harbouring.<\/p>\n \u201cHe just always puts the team first and he always comes second,\u201d said Stokes. \u201cThat\u2019s my only concern with it, knowing what he went through last time. Because I don\u2019t want to see that ever happen again. I care for Joe a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n