With the threat of a whitewash looming large in the Ashes England have no option but to ring in a few changes for a better tomorrow. One among them is the change of leadership. For Joe Root with all the batting riches at his disposal has looked all at sea against the rampaging Australians. One of the best batsmen of the contemporary era, especially in Tests, would be better off without the burden of captaincy, so it seems. He has also achieved an unwanted record of most number of losses as the English captain, 24 defeats from 59 games. So, the English crown does not sit well with Root at the moment. However, who are the suitable candidates to replace the beleaguered Root? Let us find out.
Ben Stokes
Unlike the current captain, Stokes is an all-format player, hence, he comes across as an ideal replacement. Being the vice-captain of the team it won’t be a case of trial by fire with regard to Stokes as well. However, there is a strong case against his candidature because there is a thought process doing the rounds that the responsibilities as a skipper could impact his all-round skills and England need his multi-tasking abilities more than anything else. Also, he should be given the charge only if he is willing to take up the job as he has just returned to the action post a break to address his mental health issues. Hence, Stokes might seem like an ideal candidate but there are some hiccups also.
Stuart Broad
The 33-year-old veteran pacer brings in vast experience as he has been in the international arena for over a decade. Also, he is not new to captaincy as he has led the side in the short and shortest formats as well. Being the second-highest wicket-taker for England, Broad has displayed tremendous cricketing acumen over the years while plotting batters’ dismissals. But it remains to be seen how many years of cricket is left in him, whether he can be in charge for the next three years, at least. Also, fast bowlers are prone to break downs and England should not be staring at a captaincy crisis in another 6-8 months.
Jos Buttler
Buttler seems to be another choice for England as far as captaincy is concerned. Blessed with a good cricketing brain, Buttler ticks most of the boxes with regard to leadership. In fact, Shane Warne, under whose mentorship the English wicketkeeper-batsman has evolved greatly for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, holds Buttler in high esteem. Buttler might look like a good choice to take over the mantle of leadership from Roots, but his ordinary returns with the bat for the last few years happen to be a big impediment for the high-profile job. So, the question is whether the English Cricket Board (ECB) is ready to hedge bets on an out-of-form player?
Rory Burns
As an opening batsman, the 26-year-old has been disappointing in the current Ashes series. But as they say, “form is temporary and class is permanent”. So, going by the popular saying, he can be considered for the lead role as he has been a proven performer for the English side in the past. This apart, Burns is well acquainted with the captaincy, courtesy of his stint with the Surrey team. However, it is up to the ECB to decide whether it wants a relatively young guy for the top job at the expense of some experienced campaigners.
