By Matt Lawless From Daily Mirror UK

EXCLUSIVE: All-rounder Stokes wants feel-good factor Southgate and co recreated as England host the World Cup AND Ashes

Ben Stokes wants to extend England’s summer of love into 2019 — even if it will be a tough act to follow.

The nation was in high spirits last year thanks to the Three Lions’ fantastic run to the football World Cup semi-finals in Russia. And now the cricketers want to keep the party going.

With their own World Cup and then the Ashes to look forward to, England all-rounder Stokes wants Joe Root’s team to do their bit and make it a summer to last long in the memory.

“It will be tough,” said Stokes. “Football has a bigger following than cricket. But our fans are absolutely amazing and I think they are just as excited as us about what this summer has to offer.”

England leave for the Caribbean on Friday, with their first tour match next Tuesday against a West Indies Board XI.

At the end of the month, they face the Windies in a three-match Test series, where Root’s side will be looking to pick up from where they left off in 2018 when they finished the year with a 3-0 clean sweep in Sri Lanka.

Stokes is under no illusions, however, of the task that awaits – and knows England must be up to the challenge.

“I always love touring the Caribbean,” said Stokes. “It’s a beautiful area with a lot to do away from cricket.

“However it’s not a holiday and the cricket is always the main focus. We know it will be a very competitive tour and prepare us for a huge summer ahead.”

Stokes is the latest British sporting star to sign up with fashion brand 11 Degrees, following in the footsteps of boxers Tony Bellew and Carl Frampton. And he admits some of his clothing will come as a shock to his team-mates in the sunny Caribbean climate.

“I get a lot of stick, especially from my team-mates, with my attire but they are just boring,” laughed Stokes.

“Fashion is something I always try to have an open mind with. So I try to mix it up with different looks as much as I can.”

Stokes, of course, is keen to let his cricket do the talking this year after making the front pages last August, when he was cleared of affray following a high-profile court case in Bristol.

“Expectations will always be high representing your country,” added the 27-year-old. “It will be amazing to do well this summer and I would love to end it being a World Cup winner and regaining the Ashes.”

• Ben Stokes was speaking courtesy of 11 Degrees.

For more on this story go to: https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/cricket/ben-stokes-england-cricketers-out-13835751