Joe Root looks set to be named England captain over Yorkshire teammate Harry Brook, a move that has been criticised as a backward step.
During a press conference after his retirement from international cricket, Ben Stokes was clear about who should succeed him. “You don’t ask someone to be vice-captain if you don’t think they’ve got the skills and the ability to be able to captain the team when they need to,” Stokes said. “So, if I was asked who I think should do it, I’m throwing my 100 percent support behind Harry Brook.”
Despite this, it has emerged that Joe Root is almost certain to lead England into their three-Test series against Pakistan next month. The delay in announcing a new Test captain suggested Brook was not the choice, even though he served as Stokes’ deputy on the Ashes tour and continued in the role this summer.
Brook's reaction and Root's record
After Stokes’ backing, Brook said: “It would be an honour and a privilege to be Test captain. It would be the pinnacle.” However, according to a report on The Athletic, Root will take charge for a second stint that could include next summer’s Ashes.
Root, 35, has led England to more Test wins than any other captain – 27 in 65 matches – but also has 27 losses. His first spell ended with one win in 17 Tests, a run extended to one win in 18 when he stood in for Stokes against New Zealand at the Oval earlier this summer and suffered a heavy defeat.
Root is one of England’s greatest-ever cricketers, but if he takes the captaincy again, it would be a backward step from the England hierarchy led by managing director Rob Key.
Reasons for overlooking Brook
Presumably, the reasons for overlooking Brook are twofold. One is the memory of him being punished for getting punched by a nightclub bouncer on the eve of a game in Wellington. The other is that Brook captains the white-ball team and the ECB will claim they do not want to overburden him.
But considering Brook has sacrificed franchise cricket abroad – he plays for Sunrisers Leeds in The Hundred – he is clearly committed to England. Captaining across three formats should not be out of the question. Brook, 27, has played 38 Test matches and is a leader in the dressing-room. If the ECB feels he needs more maturity, giving him the Test captaincy would help.
Whatever his weaknesses, he is a hugely exciting cricketer. If Stokes feels Brook has the right stuff to lead the Test team, there should be no argument. Instead, this feels like a backward step.
