Ben Stokes backs Harry Brook, however who ought to be England’s subsequent Take a look at captain? | Cricket Information

There was no beating across the bush from Ben Stokes.

Unshackled after his ultimate Take a look at, maybe now not required to meticulously take into account what he tells the general public, the retiring Stokes made it clear who he thinks ought to succeed him as England captain.

“If I used to be requested who I believe ought to do it, I might be throwing my 100 per cent assist behind Harry Brook,” Stokes stated.

Brook, England’s vice-captain, was missed for the captaincy for the second Take a look at in opposition to New Zealand at The Oval within the aftermath of the nightclub incident that noticed Stokes stood down.

The England hierarchy turned to former Take a look at captain Joe Root on that event, however Stokes believes the “phenomenally proficient” Brook is his pure successor.

“There is a cause why he was requested to be vice-captain of this workforce,” Stokes added.

“I do know with all of the controversy of the final couple of weeks there have been some choices that had been made, however these had been choices that I wasn’t a part of making.

“You are requested to be vice-captain of a workforce for a sure cause. I used to be vice-captain underneath Joe for a very long time. It is the pure development. If the captain will not be there or unavailable, you then step as much as be that.

“There’s completely no cause why Harry should not be requested to do this. He is an unimaginable participant, one of many extra senior gamers on this group – everyone knows he is a phenomenally proficient particular person in relation to his talent as a batter.

“In the event you lump a bit extra duty on his shoulders with this workforce, we do not know if that is going to point out any extra enchancment within the expertise he is already acquired. Solely time will inform.

“However you do not ask somebody to be vice-captain in case you do not suppose they have the abilities or the power to captain the workforce when they should.”

An all-format captain to switch Stokes?

Brendon McCullum has been performing the twin position of head coach to England’s Take a look at and white-ball groups since January 2025.

McCullum, who appointed Brook as captain of England’s white-ball sides in April 2025, was requested whether or not Stokes’ substitute ought to carry out the roles throughout all codecs.

“These are conversations we have to have in the end,” McCullum stated.

“We have a couple of weeks till the following Take a look at collection [vs Pakistan from August 19]. We have time to take a seat down and map out what that appears like.

“We have sturdy leaders within the facet and choices to utilise. They will not be Ben Stokes, who was very a lot his personal sort of chief, one all of us adored.

“There’ll must be some work put in there however that’s simply the character of issues.

“Nobody can play or captain ceaselessly. We wish to have fun Stokes’ captaincy and profession, in time we are going to begin to consider choices.”

‘Sing off the identical hymnsheet’

Former England captain Nasser Hussain accepts Brook is a pure match to work alongside McCullum as Take a look at captain, however has warned of the added strain given their white-ball commitments.

“It actually relies upon what occurs with the hierarchy on the high,” Hussain stated. “If you will proceed with [managing director Rob] Key and McCullum, then Brook matches that completely.

“You may think about the type of play with McCullum – it is going to be on the optimistic facet. If that’s the means you go, then I might go together with Brook, however that places quite a lot of workload on Brook, because it does McCullum.

“Michael Atherton feels it places an excessive amount of on McCullum. You may’t have him throughout the board doing every thing.

“In the event that they transfer on from the coach and director of cricket and go down a special path, with an old-style coach, then you’ll get an old-style captain. They’ve to suit collectively; they need to sing off the identical hymnsheet.”

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