Beard Liberation Front
28th April
Ben Stokes becomes first fully bearded England Men’s Test captain since Flintoff
The Beard Liberation Front, the informal network of beard wearers, has welcomed the news that Durham cricketer Ben Stokes has been appointed as the 81st England Test captain.
He becomes the first full bearded men’s Test Captain since Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff (2005-07). After W G Grace there was an informal rule that Test Captain’s should not wear a beard and this was only broken with Mike Brearley’s famous Ashes beard (1979-80). Brearley is 80 today although has long since reverted to a clean shaven appearance.
A number of bearded captains followed including Ian Botham and Graham Gooch but in recent years while Alastair Cook and Joe Root have sometimes sported facial hair none has managed a full beard.
BLF Organiser Keith Flett said, we wish Ben Stokes well in his new role as Captain. We are sure that his well known Beard Power will make a significant difference to the performance of the England Men’s red ball team. Freddie Flintoff was voted Beard of the Year during his tenure as captain so Ben Stokes has a high bar.
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