Root steppeddown last week, saying the job had taken a heavy toll on him recently, afterdispiriting tours of Australia and the Caribbean capped a string of poorresults.
The31-year-old Root is England"s second-highest Test run-scorer of all time,behind Alastair Cook. His tally of 5,295 runs as skipper is the highest by anEngland captain. He scored 1,708 test runs in 2021, including six Testcenturies.
"Nowthat he has stood down, I fully expect him to continue his brilliance with abat in hand and show why he is the greatest batsman we"ve ever produced,"all-rounder Stokes wrote in a column for the Daily Mirror.
"We arelucky to have him and he"s still got so much to offer English cricket."
Stokesthanked Root for his support as captain, saying their relationship went"deeper and further" than just team mates and they have been"good friends" for a long time.
Stokes saidRoot called him to inform of his decision.
"As youcan imagine it was quite an emotional conversation, but it wasn"t a long chat,there will be time for that in the future," he continued.
"Thiswas an emotional few minutes and in return there was nothing but love, respectand support from me because that is what Joe Root has shown me throughout histime as England Test captain."
Englandappointed former batter Rob Key as the managing director of the country"s men"scricket team while Stokes, who was Root"s deputy, has been tipped as afavourite to become the next captain.
"I knowthere will be lots of speculation around who will take over from him, andclearly as vice-captain and someone who has stood in on a few occasions my namewill be strongly talked about," Stokes added.
"Butall I will say is that it is a huge honour to captain England and whoever doesit will get to enjoy that responsibility of trying to take the teamforward."
