Ben Stokes: England need to make fans fall in love with Joe Root's team

Ben Stokes sent a Valentine's Day message to England's fans promising he and new captain Joe Root would make the country fall in love with the team again.

After almost five years of Alastair Cook's leadership, England are entering a new era with two of their most exciting and charismatic players to the fore.

Root's long expected elevation was confirmed on Monday, with all-rounder Stokes promoted to vice-captain.

The pair are two of the side's most engaging crowd-pleasers and are expected to usher in a more aggressive, innovative style of cricket after the occasionally conservative reigns of Cook and predecessor Andrew Strauss.

Speaking ahead of Root's formal unveiling on Wednesday, Stokes admitted: "We need people to fall in love with it again. We need to win but we want to perform in a manner that makes people want to come and watch us.

"Every team goes through transition but I hope we can be influential in taking the team forward.

"Cooky started us on that path, Rooty was part of that as vice-captain and now we can carry that on.

"We have the same direction of where we want to take the team."

Stokes was interviewed by Strauss, now England's director of cricket, along with Stuart Broad and Jos Buttler but it was widely assumed the job was Root's to lose after two years as Cook's deputy.

The Durham all-rounder was not surprised to see his team-mate get the nod but is looking forward to his own increased responsibility.

Far from being a runner-up prize the 25-year-old, already a key batsman, bowler and premier fielder, sees the vice-captaincy as another chance to place himself front and centre in England's pursuit of Test success.

"I've always believed that Rooty was going to be captain," said Stokes.

"He's the right person and the best person to do it. He's a colleague but also a close mate and I was chuffed to bits for him. I couldn't be more pleased for him.

"The biggest thing is having respect of the people you are in charge of. He has that and respect goes a long way.

"Getting the news that I would be his vice-captain made me ecstatic. It's a real honour, it's England vice-captain, it's supporting Rooty, but it's also the recognition from him and the people at the top of the ECB.

"Everything I do is to win and being vice-captain won't change me as a person or as a player.

"I want to be involved in all aspects of the game, whether it's hitting the winning runs or taking the final wicket. I have always wanted to be in the middle of it.

"Being vice-captain I will have to bring a mental and supportive side too. If I am not involved in the game then I will have to add my tactical input."

Stokes has no problem with the latter part of the job description, having found his feet on the international stage over the past two years and become an increasingly influential figure in the dressing room.

It is just four years since he made his Test bow in Adelaide during the 2013 Ashes but when England head Down Under this winter, he will do so as a senior figure.

"I have been more vocal over the last year but I only speak when I think something needs to be said. I'm not one for cliches," he explained.

"Just being vice-captain doesn't give me the right to say whatever I want. There are still some areas I can get better at but hopefully I can improve and we can win more games for England."