Ben Gardner ranks the candidates to replace Jos Buttler as England's ODI captain, from the least to the most absurd.
Jos Buttler’s done, confirming the decision today that was obvious in the aftermath of England's defeat against Afghanistan. One look into those faraway blues on the outfield gave away the emotion he confirmed less than 48 hours later - a deep, yearning sadness for something he knows he can’t have, like he’s watching his high-school sweetheart walk down the aisle to marry someone else. Will he ever recover? A full bottle of rosé, a pint of Ben and Jerry's and a few ‘f*** it’ sloganed bats are probably a good starting point for a lonely life back in the ranks.
While the dead rubber against South Africa could contain yet more pain, that shouldn’t stop us speculating on who could succeed him. And the options, well, they aren’t compelling.
Harry Brook
Six months ago, having led England to a creditable 3-2 defeat against the world champions Australia, with his own one-day game in full working order, Brook looked nailed on to take over at some point. Some were even saying the call should come before the Champions Trophy, although a Gen Z leader for the most millennial of tournaments felt confronting. The job is probably still his, but while the intervening months haven’t quite seen his reputation go up in smoke, they have at least covered it with a thick layer of smog, as he struggles to adopt an ODI-suitable tempo with his game against spin under question as well.
Ben Duckett
In contrast to Brook, Duckett’s stock has risen even as England have struggled, with the recently installed opener nailing the powerplay and then carrying on through the middle overs like Jonny Bairstow reborn. He’s a senior player across formats, but also young enough to make the role his own. The problem is, he has a habit of upsetting England fans whenever he speaks, even when he’s saying seemingly inoffensive things like, ‘we’d rather win the Champions Trophy than a warm-up ODI series against India’. That’s hardly a problem unique to him, but if the next skipper’s in-tray includes a significant PR push, Duckett might not be the best man for the role.
Liam Livingstone
If you can remember all the way back to England’s last pre-McCullum ODI series, it was Liam Livingstone in charge, and impressing with a mature century that seemed at the time like a coming of age. He’s also younger than 34 and fairly sure of his place in the side, which rules out most other candidates. However, Livingstone also has that Duckett habit of pissing people off with his words - see, for example, his analysis that England “didn’t deserve to lose” against Australia, a statement that, in all fairness, probably qualifies him to be an England captain - and also with his shot selection.
Joe Root
Yes, we all remember the Joe Root captaincy bad times. The one win in 17. England’s only home series defeat in the last decade. The Covid Ashes. The Caribbean capitulation. But there were also, genuinely, some good bits, when it seemed like the twin demands of batting and captaincy could be balanced on those twinkling toes. That he’s never captained in an ODI is a quietly bizarre stat. As an ODI Lee Carsley, until Brook is ready for the role full time, is it really so crazy? On the other hand, one look at Root tearful on the balcony as Afghanistan celebrated was almost too much to bear. Anything that might stop him smiling is to be avoided at all costs.
Ben Stokes
Given England have gone back to having an all-format coach, why not an all-format captain as well? Stokes is swerving the Hundred and the IPL, underlining that international cricket remains, for him, the only thing that really matters. And he’s responded to an ODI SOS before, though trying to navigate the 2023 World Cup with just one working knee didn’t go great. He would balance the side too, but only if he’s fit and can bowl, and that’s the crux of it. With England’s Test schedule this year containing ten back-to-back Tests against the two best sides in the world, and Stokes’ body containing a finite and ever-diminishing amount of cricket, any extra workload is best avoided.
Phil Salt
Never batting more than 30 balls in an innings should give you plenty of time to think about field placements.
Adil Rashid
No one ever really talks about Adil Rashid in these kinds of discussions. That continues to be the case this time.
Sam Curran
There was a time when Sam Curran would have been some way up this list, when his death bowling, middle-order nous and competitive edge marked him out as having the stuff needed to lead England. Now, he’s out of favour in all formats, much to his own bemusement. If McCullum doesn’t fancy him, there’s always someone else that will, but it will need a change in coach for Curran to get a look in.
Sam Billings
The hipster’s choice, if you can call your stereotypical land-owning mid-50s county cricket fan a hipster.
Moeen Ali
“2027 World Cup?” “Lol”
Rocky Flintoff
For some reason, he’s 100/1 with Betfair - a pound on a nepo-baby hard launch anyone?
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