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'Horribly wrong' yet 'not a sackable offense': Nasser Hussain, Michael Atherton on Ben Stokes after ENG Test captaincy change originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Nasser Hussain says Ben Stokes got it wrong and fears his England retirement.
- Similarly, Michael Atherton argues the situation is not a resignation or a sackable offense.
- Both former captains think that the pressure Stokes experienced over four years of captaincy had an effect on him.
- They also expressed concerns regarding Stokes' well-being.
Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton defend Ben Stokes amid England captain's controversy
England's decision to make Joe Root the skipper instead of the vice-captain Harry Brook for the second Test match against New Zealand after the exclusion of the incumbent skipper Ben Stokes has received some strong reactions from former players.
Although there have been strong criticisms of Stokes' actions, neither Nasser Hussain nor Michael Atherton called for his resignation.
England started with a win by an innings and 115 runs in the three-match series against NZ in their opening Test game at Lord’s, as the game ended on the fourth day of play.
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Hussain backs Stokes despite mistake and fears retirement talk
Appearing on Sky Sports Cricket, Hussain pointed out that Stokes will definitely feel that he disappointed many people, but stressed there should be understanding for the toll England's captaincy has taken on him..
"I think Ben Stokes will feel like he's let them down, and he will feel a little bit embarrassed. He did look tired, haggard, whatever the phrase is, before a ball went down this summer. I saw a man that the toll of four years of captaincy... weighs you down," he said.
Besides the pressure of leadership, Hussain brought up the fact that Stokes has been struggling with his form lately as well: "Nothing hits you harder as a cricketer than losing your form. Ben Stokes has been there a lot for England. He's been there as a captain. He's been there as a player at their finest moments."
Even though he criticised Stokes, Hussain said that this should not affect his career.
"He got it wrong this time. He got it horribly wrong. But I don't think that is a sackable offence. Ben will be in a dark place at the moment. I just hope Ben doesn't think that, 'I've let so many people down that I'm going to retire.'," he concluded.
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Atherton says Stokes' mistake is neither a resignation nor a sacking matter
While highlighting the timing of the decision, Atherton said, "I don't think it's a resignation offence, and I don't think it's a sacking offence, precisely because of the essential difference with [Harry] Brook, who was out before an ODI, this was after a test match win."
Atherton made reference to the greater context regarding Stokes’ time as an England captain, highlighting the challenge faced by captains of staying in the role for more than four years.
"The captain prior to Stokes in recent times, four years, has been about the limit. No matter who you are, it's a job that takes its toll."
In all, Atherton believes the main question now is about Stokes’ mentality, rather than whether or not he should stay in his current position.
"I did have a kind of instinct before that game that he was just looking like a man who'd been in the job four years."
"Whilst I don't think it's a resignation or a sacking offence at all, for Ben Stokes, the key thing is his kind of state of mind four years into the job," he remarked.
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What next for Ben Stokes?
For Ben Stokes, the first priority would be his availability for the rest of the New Zealand series, given the ongoing investigation into the matter.
After New Zealand, England's next Test series would be a home series comprising three Tests against Pakistan, starting on August 19, 2026, at Headingley.
While there has been much discussion about the Harry Brook-Joe Root saga, both Hussain and Atherton have asserted that Stokes still holds the captaincy in good standing due to his successes over the last four years.
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