Ben Stokes has backed Harry Brook to replace him as England’s Test captain, insisting it is a “natural progression” for his deputy.
Twenty four hours after dropping the bombshell announcement that he was retiring from international cricket, Stokes appeared for the final time as an England cricketer at Trent Bridge.
He bowed out in a losing cause, New Zealand wrapping up a 160-run win and a 2-1 series scoreline as they gate-crashed Stokes’ leaving party with another excellent team performance.
England do not play red-ball cricket for another seven weeks, leaving plenty of time to install his successor, but the decision is unlikely to take that long.
Unless they spring a huge leftfield call, there appears to be only two realistic options – a second act for Stokes’ predecessor Joe Root or a promotion for vice-captain Harry Brook, who already leads the limited-overs teams.
It was Root who was pressed into service at the Kia Oval earlier this month, stepping into the breach after Stokes was stood down while a disciplinary investigation unfolded into a nightclub incident that first plunged his reign into doubt.
Brook was previously involved in a late night altercation with a bouncer the night before an ODI in Wellington last November and there was a feeling that asking him to front up a group that has been criticised for its relationship with alcohol would not have sat easily.
But Stokes made it clear that he was fully behind Brook, urging the England and Wales Cricket Board to appoint his deputy.
“If I was to be asked who I think should do it, I would be throwing my 100 per cent support behind Harry Brook,” he said.
“There’s a reason he was asked to be vice-captain of this team. I know with all the controversy over the last couple of weeks some decisions were made but they were decisions I was not part of making.
“You are asked to be vice-captain for a reason and I was vice-captain under Joe for a long time. It’s the natural progression: if the captain is not there, you step up. You don’t ask someone to be vice-captain if you don’t think he’s got the skills and ability to captain the team.
“There is absolutely no reason why Harry shouldn’t be asked to do that.”
Stokes offered a less effusive take when it came to head coach Brendon McCullum and managing director Rob Key, the other two power players of the ‘Bazball’ era that has now closed.
After seven defeats in the last nine Tests, and a rare home series defeat on their record, both men need to see an improvement in results and a reduction in off-field headlines.
Asked if McCullum and Key were the men to take the team forward, he said: “What me, Brendon and Rob have managed to do over four and a half years, I’m not going to lie, it’s been an interesting ride.
“We’ve had incredible highs and some pretty low lows as well. It’s always worked and connected pretty well in terms of what we’ve wanted to achieve. It doesn’t always work out the way you want it to work out.
“I’m done now, I don’t have to take those kind of decisions and be involved in all that stuff. One of the nice feelings of the situation I’m in now is that I don’t have to worry about that stuff.”
Stokes has form with treating retirements as temporary affairs, ending his ODI career only to return for the 2023 World Cup. He also persuaded Moeen Ali to come back for one last Ashes assignment after he walked away from Test cricket.
But he insisted speculation that he could be tempted back to face Australia next summer was wide of the mark.
“I’m done,” he said.
“I’ve had a few questions asking whether I’ll be able to sit on my sofa watching next year. I know it’s the Ashes but I’ll probably be watching it in a hospitality box somewhere.”
