The England vice-captain told the The Times earlier this week he "could never say no" to the top job.

However he told the BBC Today program he would be concerned about the responsibility on his shoulders becoming too much to bear.

The talismanic allrounder insists he is content with his role in the side as well as his status as deputy to Test skipper Joe Root.

"That's not an aspiration of mine," Stokes said of the captaincy.

"It's just not one of those things I'm desperate to do. I'm very happy at the moment being vice-captain, we've got a great leader in Joe.

"You never know how you handle the pressure of being England captain unless you do it. Being the Test captain of England - so much pressure comes with it."

Stokes is in the prime of his professional career and has enjoyed an incredible past few months, starring in England's historic World Cup triumph and the drawn Ashes series.

But when he does eventually retire, Stokes envisages remaining in cricket and would welcome a coaching role.

"I can't ever see myself just completely disconnecting myself away from the game as some people have," he said.

"But I'm still only 28, I have got plenty of years in the tank hopefully. But I'd love to stay in the game somehow and if that was as a coach I'd love to do that."

Meanwhile England bowler James Anderson believes he is progressing nicely as he recovers from a calf injury.

The nation's all-time leading wicket-taker managed just four overs of the first Ashes Test against Australia before suffering the problem which ruled him out of the rest of the series and the current tour of New Zealand.

The Lancashire seamer, 37, tweeted a video of him bowling in a net session alongside former England batsmen Marcus Trescothick and Jonathan Trott, as well as an update on his fitness.

"Another day of building up my bowing. Progressing nicely. Happy the two guys on the right weren't batting!" he wrote.

England's next Test series against South Africa begins on Boxing Day, with Anderson targeting a return to the squad for that tour - which forms part of the ICC World Test Championship.

Australian Associated Press