Cricket all-rounder learns from past experiences ahead of busy summer.

Cricket all-rounder learns from past experiences ahead of busy summer.

Ben Stokes has been handed one of the greatest honours in world cricket after being named new England Test captain and the powerful all-rounder is keen to use his past experiences to fuel a successful reign starting with a busy home summer of matches. Here is all you need to know:

- Stokes has taken over from Joe Root with summer Tests against New Zealand, India and South Africa ensuring that the Durham all-rounder has lots of opportunities to build back confidence in the struggling side.

- The 30-year-old was Test vice-captain under Root, while he also has experience as stand-in captain for the Test and ODI teams in the last few years so can hit the ground running this summer.

- It was not always plain sailing, though, as in the 2016 T20 World Cup final against the West Indies, Stokes suffered about the worst thing that can happen to a bowler when Carlos Brathwaite hit four straight sixes off Stokes in the final over to clinch victory with just two balls to spare.

- He recalled: "He smacked me all over the park. I could have let that define me and then let it eat me up. But it's what happened, it's been and gone. It was tough to deal with at the time."

- Thankfully his 11-year career in the England set-up has produced many more positive moments including his astonishing unbeaten 84 and Super Over heroics that helped guide England to victory in the final of the 50-over World Cup against New Zealand when it looked like all was lost.

- He revealed: "Every experience is a learning curve, whether it be good or bad. So there's always going to be moments where you look back and you were the wrong side of the competition, but it is how you assess that and how you deal with it. You're only as good as your next game."

- Stokes' individual heroics are often singled out like his 258 against South Africa - the highest for a number-six batsman and fastest double century for England - but the team remains the priority as always.

- He added: "There's something special about being in a team. The attraction is being able to share everything with other people who have the same goals as you. I'd rather have an absolute stinker of a game and the team wins than do something great and not win. Winning – that's most important to me."

- In terms of his captaincy goals through 2022 and beyond, he said: "I want to stay in this game until my body just can't do it anymore. I'd love to be part of another Ashes winning team and another World Cup."