It was only a short hand-written note left on his hanger in the Ageas Bowl dressing room but the message could not be clearer for Ben Stokes as he prepares to captain England for the first time in their ground-breaking first Test against West Indies.
'There's been a lot of opinions flying around but the best message I received was after I got my photo done yesterday in my blazer,' said Stokes ahead of Wednesday's return of international cricket in the bio-secure environment of Hampshire's Southampton ground.
'It wasn't that well written but it was from Joe Root and it just said 'do it your way'.