Former England bowler Steve Harmison has admitted he has concerns over Ben Stokes being appointed captain.
Stokes has been unveiled as the new captain of the Test team, replacing Joe Root after he stood down as skipper earlier this month. While Managing Director of England Men's Cricket Rob Key has insisted that Stokes is "ready for the added responsibility" of the captaincy, Harmison has shared his concerns.
Stokes took a break from cricket last year to prioritise his mental wellbeing, returning in time for the Ashes last winter. And Harmison, who has been open about his own struggles with mental health during his international career, told talkSPORT : "I've got a big concern having gone through difficulties mentally in that environment [myself], and Keysy knows that first-hand because he helped me through most of it, that never goes away. It never goes away.
"From Ben's point of view, I don't think it's going to go away. Yes, he might be in a good place at this minute in time and he'll have support mechanisms to make sure that he's fine when he does tour again but those demons are still in there."
Harmison also urged Key and the England management to find ways to lighten the load for Stokes to ensure he remains fully focused on captaining the Test team. Harmison also warned that if Stokes "gets involved in everything else" he cannot see his reign lasting more than six months because "mentally he'll not be able to do it".
He added: "It's just what they do to give him the best chance [as captain], whether he gives up ODI cricket and only plays in major tournaments. I think they've got to try and convince him to bat at number six and not number five to take some pressure off him that way because he's going to have not only captain the side but bat and bowl [as well].
"I think that would be a sensible move and I think they've got to make it a financial package for him to turn down the IPL next year. That means you have 18 months with no IPL and a fully focused Ben Stokes on one thing and one thing alone which is to lead the England cricket team.
"I think then you've got a chance of making sure that Ben gets used to the job and England are starting to go forward on a good footing. That's what I would be saying to Ben. Any other outside influences he doesn't need to have.
"That's what Rob Key and the coaching staff have got to do, take it off his plate. All he's got to do is go on the field, captain the side and hopefully getting England going forward in red ball cricket. If he gets involved in everything else, I'll give him six months because mentally he'll not be able to do it."
