It is a foregone conclusion that England need a new captain. There is no doubt about it. Joe Root, the incumbent, wants to continue as the captain for the foreseeable future. I can think of only one reason for him wanting to continue. He hasn’t won the Ashes in multiple attempts. A couple of times losing miserably and the 3rd time saving the series by a whisker. Not winning the Ashes is quite common for English captains. From the early 90s till the middle of 2000s, no England captain have won the Ashes.
It all changed with Michael Vaughan and every English captain who had captained England for a reasonable amount of time have managed to win atleast one. Strauss, Vaughan and even Cook. Strauss infact won in Australia. Now, Root does want to be rated among those men. He does not want to go down in history as the first captain to have not won a single Ashes in the new millennium. However, I think that his time is up. Who are the contenders then?
Popular choice is Ben Stokes
Stokes is the most obvious choice. He has been the understudy to Root for a very long time. He is the firm favourite to takeover from Root if the ECB decides to replace the current captain. Stokes is someone who has earned the respect of the team. He has accomplished enough as an English cricketer that others listen to his words of wisdom. However, there is one huge if. Being the premier all-rounder in the team, what if he injures himself while bowling? What if he bowls himself to the ground as he is known to? Can English cricket afford to lose a player of the calibre of Stokes?
More importantly, would he want to step into the breach if Root is removed rather than Root gives up out of sheer loyalty to his captain? These are questions that are difficult to answer. Moreover, Stokes is just back from a prolonged mental rehabilitation. Captaincy, that too when England are in such a serious spot of bother is likely to put him under an enormous amount of pressure. Perhaps, in a couple of years time, Stokes will be alright. Will ECB take the punt on him at this moment or will they want to wait?
Stokes led a few rookies in 2021 to a couple of series wins against Pakistan in limited overs. He has shown that he has the capability to inspire his fellow cricketers. I personally think that if Stokes is willing, ECB does not have to look anywhere else. Appointing Stokes will not going to change the fortunes of English cricket overnight. However, it will be a start.
Next on the line is Stuart Broad
Broad is not part of the team any longer. Even when he was, he wasn’t an automatic selection that he was until a few years ago. The introduction of Archer, Stone, Wood and Robinson has all but ensured that Broad is an afterthought unless quite a few of the above are injured. However, Broad has shown an appetite for captaincy. He has led England in more than T20 games and so he does have experience at the highest level. Broad is known as a good thinker of the game. The one problem that I see with Broad being the captain is that he is unlikely to be among the first choice pace attack once all the bowlers are fit but seeing that it is a captain that England now needs, other bowlers, will have to play around him.
One point that goes in favour of Broad is that he is straight-talking. It is something England needs desperately. He has shown that in his articles even during the middle of the Ashes by criticising the choice of selection or how he could have added value to the team.
The only problem in appointing Broad is that will Andrew Strauss, after famously dropping him from the squad, have the nerve to go back and support Broad?
Anderson is also in the mix
Anderson is 40 and unlikely to play for more than a year or two. He remains a champion in English conditions. Much like Broad, he may not be among the first choice attack outside of England. However, you do not take more than 650 wickets if you cannot think well. Giving him the captaincy will be a good gesture on the part of the ECB to honour his accomplishments. Being dropped from the squad rather unceremoniously will spur Anderson to give more than his best.
The 4th member is Rory Burns
Burns was all at sea in Australia. He looked like a walking wicket but after Root, it is Burns who averages in the 40s before Australia. The one challenge is whether will he be able to inspire the rest of the team when he is struggling for runs?
There is a rank outsider
Eoin Morgan. He has led the white ball team amazingly. He is a World Cup winner. Ofcourse, he is old and age is not on his side. Also, his previous stint as a pure batsman wasn’t a huge success. As a result, he found himself out of the test team permanently but considering the fact that most of the players are the same across all the formats, Morgan does command the respect of other players. Morgan can easily replace Lawrence or Foakes with Bairstow taking over the keeping duties. Off late, he is struggling for form even in white ball cricket. The only factor against Morgan is his age. He can be the captain till the end of next year’s Ashes and handover to someone who is more eligible at that point.
Conclusion to England need a new captain
Whoever becomes the captain of England, he is not going to change the fortunes immediately. However, Root cannot be allowed to continue after so many failures.
What do you think of these contenders? Do you think Root must be removed or should he be allowed to continue until the end of next year’s Ashes so that he will get one final chance to fulfil him ambition?