Former England Captains Split on Ben Stokes Captaincy Future
6 verified3 unconfirmed
Former England cricket captains have offered differing views on whether Ben Stokes should continue as England Test captain after he was left out of the second Test against New Zealand for breaking a team curfew. Michael Vaughan called it an "absolute travesty" if Stokes does not return as skipper, while Nasser Hussain said he would have backed Stokes more publicly and still considers him the best captain. England coach Brendon McCullum and director Rob Key have both refused to confirm Stokes will return as captain. Joe Root is standing in as captain on a "game-by-game" basis for the Oval Test. Two separate investigations by the ECB and the Cricket Regulator remain ongoing. Stokes has not addressed the incident publicly beyond a brief social media post.
What’s verified
Ben Stokes was left out of England's squad for the second Test against New Zealand after breaking the team's midnight curfew.
Joe Root is serving as stand-in captain for the second Test on a "game-by-game" basis.
England coach Brendon McCullum and director Rob Key have both refused to confirm that Stokes will return as captain.
Two investigations, one by the ECB and another by the Cricket Regulator, are still ongoing.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan said it would be an "absolute travesty" if Stokes does not captain England again.
Former England captain Nasser Hussain stated he would have backed Stokes more and still considers him the best captain for the team.
Not yet confirmed
One source reports that Stokes has not spoken publicly other than a brief Instagram post, while another source reports that Stokes "broke his silence" with a message to three England debutants. It is unclear if these refer to the same communication.
Whether Stokes still wants to continue as captain, or has the energy for the role, remains unconfirmed.
The status of the relationships between Stokes, McCullum, and Key is unclear, with Vaughan suggesting they may not be "moulded together again" while McCullum has denied any strain.
Key figures
Ben Stokes – England Test captain, left out of second Test squad
Joe Root – former England captain, stand-in captain for second Test
Michael Vaughan – former England captain
Nasser Hussain – former England captain
Brendon McCullum – England Test coach
Rob Key – England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) director
Gus Atkinson – England bowler who also broke curfew
Sources: BBC News, Sky Sports
