Will Ben Stokes Replace Joe Root as Captain

He led England for a record 64 tests and won 27, which is more than any other captain who led the side. He also scored 14 centuries as an English captain. However, England won only one of their last 17 Test matches, a form that has made his position untenable. The decision came after they were handed defeats in the Ashes and West Indies tours. Joe Root’s resignation comes at a time of enormous upheaval in English Cricket, and thus, leading England further is a challenging task for the succeeding captain. Also, choosing the next captain will be the first task for the new management hierarchy, with England in the process of appointing a new managing director and head coach.  

Ben Stokes: The next captain?

Ben Stokes, Root’s vice-captain, is the early favorite to succeed him as captain. He is someone who has got an intelligent cricket game and has the ability to lead the side well. The 30-year-old took a six-month break from cricket last year to rest an injury before returning to play in England’s tour of Australia and the West Indies. England needs to pick somebody who is worthy of captaincy for England, and Ben Stokes seems the obvious candidate, looking at his value for the team and an incredible sense of the game. The one significant defining characteristic of Ben Stokes is loyalty, and he is very loyal to Joe Root and will consequently feel a lot easier about accepting the job. He has done some really remarkable things as a cricketer taking English cricket to higher levels. His performance in the 2019 Ashes is unforgettable, and Ben Stokes was a surprise in the match. He has constantly been proving his worth, whether the World Cup final knock or the knock at Headingley. Stokes is everything in a person, and a player that you want nut will also need massive support around him. 

“In Ben Stokes, you have clearly got someone who has got a smart cricket brain; he’s going to give it everything; he is certainly going to have the respect of the players around him.” Vaughan, though, add Stokes would require help from other experienced players on the team. “Stokes is everything in a person and a player that you would want,” said Michael Vaughan. 

The all-rounder had earlier captained a young England side to a 3-0 ODI series victory against Pakistan last summer. His presence on the field has been exceptional. If Stokes performs the way he is known, he can indeed lead the team by example. Someone like him could be the one if he is fit enough and able to maintain his performance. The only reasons to worry for Stokes are his injuries which, if conquered, he can lead the side fluently. But along with his skills and abilities, Stokes will also need a senior core around to give him a few pointers, and for this, Joe Root could be his biggest ally. However, he will not be the vice-captain; he will definitely be able to give Stokes his honest feedback all the time as the two are very close.

Other options for England?

Although Ben Stokes is everyone’s favorite to take over from Root, there are a few other names who are potential candidates to take over too! Stuart Broad could be a short-term interim leader for the team looking at his experience in the game and has also captained England before in T20 cricket. He has an excellent cricket brain and a competing attitude. Jos Buttler, Rory Burns, Alex Lees, Sam Billings, and James Vince are a few other names who hold the capability to lead.

However, looking at all the possibilities, we might expect Ben Stokes to be leading and helping out the collapsed English side.