- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,169,346
- Reaction score
- 59
You must be registered for see images attach
'It's a bit of a mess': Cricket World reacts as England bypass Harry Brook for Joe Root Test captaincy after Ben Stokes omission originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- England choosing Joe Root as interim Test skipper over vice-captain Harry Brook has attracted attention after Ben Stokes' removal for the second Test against New Zealand.
- Critics question why Brook was not given an opportunity as he is the deputy of Stokes.
- ECB's decision on Root has come as England continues to suffer from the repercussions of the controversial nightclub incident involving Stokes and Gus Atkinson.
Joe Root's appointment raises questions over England's leadership succession plan
England appointed their former captain Joe Root as acting captain of the side for the upcoming second Test match against New Zealand after the omission of the vice-captain, Harry Brook, owing to the investigation being conducted over an episode involving Ben Stokes at a nightclub.
The reason behind the decision was that Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson were excluded from the team due to their actions at a nightclub and for violating curfew rules following England's win in the opening match of the series.
At the same time, Root's appointment has raised questions about whether Brook will have any chance to succeed as a leader within the England squad following his omission.
Root previously captained England in 64 Test matches between 2017 to 2022.
MORE:What really happened in Ben Stokes' nightclub incident
Cricket world reacts to Harry Brook Test captaincy snub
The decision to sideline vice-captain Brook in favour of Root drew mixed reactions from journalists and fans, as some felt the leadership transition was being mishandled among others chose to defend the decision made by the ECB.
BBC Test Match Special reporter, Alison Mitchell, highlighted the issue as: "It’s a bit of a mess, when the vice-captain doesn’t captain in place of the captain. Instead of Harry Brook, Joe Root is back as (interim) skipper at the Oval."
Samuel Luckhurst, a journalist based in Manchester, said, "Reinstalling Root as captain eminently sensible. Even if Brook hadn’t have got clocked by that Wellington bouncer it is difficult to ever imagine him as captain material."
Ex-BBC staff member Nick Webb also accounts for those who believed that the choice brought to light uncertainties in the hierarchy of English cricket.
"Good decision to have Joe Root leading England in next Test given Harry Brook’s involvement in late night issues. Time to start looking for the next medium term captain even if Ben Stokes returns to the role later in summer. Missing one test probably enough unless more emerges," he stated.
MORE:Jordan Cox channels inner Virat Kohli with unique 'One8' swag
Why It Matters: ECB takes safe approach by handing Root captaincy
You must be registered for see images attach
While it's true that Joe Root's maturity and experience make him a safe bet for now, the decision to leave out Harry Brook has left doubt about their succession plans.
It is generally expected of vice-captains to take up the role of captain and not being considered by the selectors could indicate that Brook is not considered as a good future leader in Test cricket.
On the other hand, it is also possible that the ECB did not want to place the added burden of being the captain on Brook, given the current situation England finds itself in.
Even so, it may be proposed that some balance be maintained in the sense that a curfew violation does not become the hallmark of Ben Stokes' career and captaincy. For the England team, their next Test match assignment after the NZ series is in August, when they play Pakistan.
To keep up to date with all the latest cricket news and share your opinion on the biggest topics visit our Facebook, Instagram and X (Twitter) pages.
Continue reading...
