Former cricketers have responded to England’s choice to appoint Joe Root as captain instead of vice-captain Harry Brook for the second Test against New Zealand. While there have been criticisms of Ben Stokes, neither Nasser Hussain nor Michael Atherton called for his resignation.
England began the three-match series with a solid win by an innings and 115 runs in the first Test at Lord’s, which concluded on the fourth day. Hussain noted that Stokes might feel he has let people down but emphasized that the demands of captaincy can be significant.
“I think Ben Stokes will feel like he’s let them down, and he will feel a little bit embarrassed. He did look tired before the summer started. The pressure of four years of captaincy weighs heavily,” Hussain stated on Sky Sports Cricket.
“Nothing affects a cricketer more than losing form. Stokes has been a key player and captain for England. He made mistakes this time, but that doesn’t warrant a resignation. I just hope he doesn’t think of retiring because he feels he’s let people down,” he added.
Atherton discussed the broader context of Stokes’ leadership, mentioning the difficulties captains face when remaining in the role for over four years. He believes the focus should be on Stokes’ mindset rather than on whether he should continue as captain.
“I don’t think this is a reason for resignation or sacking, especially since it followed a Test match win. Captains usually last around four years, and it’s a demanding job,” Atherton explained.
“Before that game, I thought he seemed like someone who had been in the role for four years. While I don’t believe this is a reason to resign, Stokes’ mental state is critical as he continues in this position,” he added.