Here are five candidates to take over from Eoin Morgan as the captain of England’s short-form side.
1. Jos Butler (vc) (wk)
Jos Butler was appointed Morgan’s deputy a couple of years ago. Having already stepped in for Morgan six times, wining four of them, he is in the leadership group both for England and at more local levels.
He is in the next in line of succession. At 30, he is likely to last longer than Morgan and might take over the reigns once Morgan retires (possibly in 2023).
2. Ben Stokes
The Achilles of the 2019 Summer, Ben Stokes is already the vice captain of the Test team. He led them once and is heavily involved in the leadership group. However, like Achilles he does have a heel – his prior arrest.
Sportsmen like Stokes and Steven Smith are seen as role models taking on a permanent leadership role. However, if they make one mistake all that talent and heroics might cost them the captaincy.
Like Butler, Stokes is around 29 and will likely be around as long as Butler so if Butler did become captain, it is unlikely Stokes would sucked him.
3. Joe Root
Part of the Fab four (others being Kane Williamson, Virat Kohli and Steven Smith), Joe Root is already at the helm of red ball cricket.
However, in the 2010’s the English team has evolved to have separate captains in different formats. Root while no doubt is talented and a critical element in the ODI team, is not a guarantee in T20Is.
Unlike the other members of the Fab Four, he is never been picked in the IPL. This makes his nomination as the limited overs captain tricky, but no one has seen the future.
4. Jofra Archer
Archer can be seen as a potential talent nurtured to a more leadership role.
Archer primarily leads the bowling attack in all the three formats, but has shown his raw power with the bat for Rajasthan Royals a few times in IPL 2019 and can be nurtured into a Sunil Narine-like figure. Whilst bowlers are not particularly seen as potential captains, England has been more receptive to that (Stuart Broad lead the team in the past, as did Andy Flintoff even though he was more of a bowling allrounder).
More teams in general are opening to the idea (Kumble led India’s Test team, Southee is the Vice Captain for New Zealand and Cummins is one of Australia’s Vice Captains). Also, with age on his side he might also be seen as a long-term option potentially for 2027 and 2031 World Cups.
5. Tom Banton
Banton made his name in the T20I’s team against Australia in the Aug/Sep 2020 series in the jam-packed English team full of quality competitors (Curran Brothers, Billings, Ben Foakes etc).
The wicketkeeping youngster has already been picked by KKR in the IPL and is likely to be seen as a potent force going forward.
This shows his potential as a quality player and might be seen as one of the contenders to succeed Morgan (or Morgan’s immediate successor).
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
When was Root ever one day captain? Didn’t Morgan become one day captain when Alistair Cook was left out of the one-day team, and then Root became test captain when Cook retired with Morgan not in the test team? Also, I think Root was still a rookie when that first aforementioned event occurred and would therefore not yet have been any sort of contender.
Nathan Hall
Roar Pro
Hi Cari, I perfectly understand your comments- good criticisms and all legitimate . However , here is my defence for my opinions 1. Jos Buttler:- I perfectly agree that it is a very intensive challenge to be a wicketkeeping captain. But as far as wicketkeepings skippers go, you have the likes of Dhoni, Gilchrist and Brendan Taylor are good examples of how they can be successful. de Kock currently captains South Africa and KL Rahul will assume captaincy duties for KXIP along with Dinesh Karthik who already captains for KKR in the IPL. Keepers can work with bowlers to set fields, understand the batsman's psychology and hence, give them a tactical edge. There is also the fact of other competent keepers in the English circuit on an international level- Jonny Bairstow, Sam Billings, Tom Banton, Ben Foakes and Ollie Popes . So if wicketkeeping becomes too much for him, he can simply hand over the gloves to one of them. 2) Ben Stokes:- I do concede that there might be too much baggage , but he is still is leadership material nonetheless. His prior arrest might be a problem, but he has already led England in a test match so I think he should also be clear on that front. Stokes is an all rounder, and he can lead both the batting and bowling on his day (like Freddie used to back the day). 3)Jofra Archer:- I did mention that would be a lot of nurturing to do. Archer does have a long way to go, but still does not undermine his potential. 4)Joe Root:-Agreed, but as a captain of the Test Team and part of the Fab four, he is still a meaningful contender nonetheless. 5)Tom Banton:- Agreed, has to show more about himself but someone who might have a future here.
Cari
Roar Rookie
Jos Buttler –Wicket keeping is not the place for a captain, let him Keep and bat. Ben Stokes–Carries too much baggage, a ticking time bomb. Let him do what he does best. Jofra Archer– Are you kidding? a lot of growing up to do. Joe Root– Great bat but inclined to be unsure of what to do at times Tom Banton– Interesting though I know little about him. However follows Morgan has one hell of a job to do. Outstanding captain and leads by example most of the time and is always calm on the field which radiates though the team.
BarmyFarmer
Roar Rookie
Archer is probably last on the list for captaincy. Buttler will no doubt take it with Banton replacing Morgan at 4. I don't think Morgan will make 2023. He will captain at least one of the T20 world cups and if England win one he will retire on a high.
Brian
Guest
Assuming one of Bairstow or Banton can keep Buttler as a stand-alone batsman the best out of the lot nominated. Especially if like Morgan he's no longer playing Tests by then because of Foakes
Paul
Roar Guru
A good article about an interesting topic Nathan. I'd forgotten that Morgan is getting on a bit. I'm guessing Buttler would be the likely successor as you suggest, but wonder how that might affect his batting, having to captain on a regular basis? There's a huge difference between captaining on game day and leading a team in a series or World Cup, for example. I don't think they'll want Root to captain the team permanently again, it's too much doing that and being the Test skipper while Archer has a fair way to go IMO in terms of attitude or approach. He seems focused at ties then seems to drift out of games. Apart from his arrest, Stokes knees must be a concern while Banton might be an option once Buttler's had his turn.