Leeds, June 18 -- England's talismanic batter Joe Root declared that it is his time to pay back Test skipper Ben Stokes, who did so much for him while serving as his deputy during his captaincy tenure that lasted from 2017 to 2022.

Out of the Yorkshireman's current tally of 13,006 Test runs, 3,117 of those have come in the last three years and 36 Tests since the captaincy mantle was passed down to the flamboyant all-rounder three years ago.

Root, who initially felt weird after returning to the team after serving as the leader, has averaged 56.67 during what he describes as the most enjoyable period of his career. For the 34-year-old, the best way to support Stokes was to pile up runs on the board.

"Ben did so much for me as my vice-cap...