Ben Stokes: Joe Root praises 'brave' England captain for comments on mental health

In a new documentary, Stokes reveals he feared he would no longer play cricket when he took a break from playing cricket. sport this summer of 2021.

"It's powerful enough for people to see that sometimes it's OK not to be fine," Root told BBC Sport.

"It shows great leadership to put you forward and express some of the difficulties he went through."

Root, the predecessor of Stokes as England Test captain, added: "It's very brave to pose as naked as he did.

"It's very powerful for anyone watching to see someone who sometimes looks superhuman and can do things other players can't. can't do."

Stokes, 31, took five months off cricket the year last in order to prioritize his sanity and recover from a broken finger.

Four years Earlier, the all-rounder spent time out of the England squad following an incident outside a Bristol nightclub which led to a brawling charge. He was acquitted in 2018.

He spent another period away from international cricket in 2020 to be with his sick father Ged, who died in December of the same year.

In a documentary to be broadcast on Amazon Prime as of Friday, Stokes reveals he has suffered from panic attacks and talks about his battle with periods of poor mental health.

"You forget everything he's been through in such a short time," said batter Root, who captained England whenever Stokes took a cricket break.

"I hope that if there are people who struggle or find things difficult, they can find the courage to ask for this help."

Root and Stokes met in their teens this and have been at the heart of the England squad for much of the last decade.

They were together as youngsters on the 2013-14 Ashes tour which saw the disintegration of a formidable England side and then were part of the team that lost the 2016 T20 World Cup final - Root was one of the first to comfort Stokes after being hit for four straight sixes in the game's final over.

The duo were once again part of the squad that won the 2019 World Cup, while Stokes served as vice-captain to Root, a position he held when he almost single-handedly won a famous Ash test. at Headingley the same year.

"I am very lucky to have experienced them with one of our all top players and a good friend of mine," said Root, 31.

"You appreciate the good times and help each other through the tough times as well. It's one of the most powerful things in sports. You can create those kinds of relationships, memories and experiences."

England meet South Africa in the second Test at Old Trafford on Thursday after losing the first by a leg in three days at Lord's .

That defeat extended England's two-year run of failing to win a Test in which Root hasn't been half a century.

The last st time they've won without him reaching...