Ben Stokes is being considered as England’s next one-day international (ODI) captain, with Harry Brook emerging as a potential leader for the T20 side, as England looks to reset its white-ball strategy following Jos Buttler’s resignation. Rob Key, the director of men’s cricket, acknowledged Stokes’ leadership qualities, stating it would be “stupid” not to consider him for the role.
Key admitted to several miscalculations during England’s recent winless Champions Trophy campaign, particularly regarding squad balance and competitiveness. He emphasized the need for stronger leadership and credited Stokes for his ability to bring out the best in players. The 33-year-old all-rounder has proven himself as an outstanding Test captain, leading England to 22 wins in 34 matches, making the Test side the most successful among England’s three formats.
The key concern is managing Stokes’ workload, with England facing a packed schedule of 11 Test matches, 27 white-ball games, and a T20 World Cup in the next year. Stokes recently underwent hamstring surgery but is expected to be fit for the summer, though he has opted out of the Hundred. Key suggested that if Stokes takes over the ODI team, Brook, 26, could gain experience as T20 captain before possibly stepping into a larger leadership role in the future.
Despite recent struggles in limited-overs cricket, Key defended England’s aggressive playing style, insisting that head coach Brendon McCullum’s philosophy is more nuanced than simply “going harder.” However, he acknowledged poor decision-making and England’s ongoing difficulties in subcontinental conditions. England has consistently struggled in Asia, with failed campaigns in India and Pakistan highlighting deeper structural issues that go beyond captaincy changes.
England’s recent Champions Trophy approach, which relied heavily on pace bowling, backfired, particularly due to a lack of frontline spin options. Key admitted this was a flaw and stated that experienced spinner Liam Dawson could be considered for the T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka and India. However, England must also invest in developing younger spinners for long-term success.
The team’s struggles in Pakistan were further exacerbated by a lack of confidence after losing seven of their previous eight matches in India. This led to crucial failures in the group stage, including a below-par first innings against Australia and an unsuccessful run chase against Afghanistan. Key cited players like Joe Root, Steve Smith, and Virat Kohli as examples of elite problem-solvers, stressing the need for England to improve in this aspect.
Another area for improvement, according to Key, is media communication. He highlighted instances where players’ public comments were misinterpreted, such as Ben Duckett’s remarks about prioritizing the Champions Trophy over an ODI series loss to India and Liam Livingstone’s claim that England deserved to beat Australia in Lahore. Key emphasized the importance of players being more thoughtful in interviews to avoid misrepresentation.
As England moves forward, the focus remains on addressing fundamental weaknesses, particularly in the subcontinent, while also ensuring the right leadership choices are made. Stokes’ potential appointment as ODI captain and Brook’s development as a T20 leader could mark the beginning of a new era, but England will need more than just a change in captaincy to return to the top in white-ball cricket.
