London, March 16: Former England pacer Stuart Broad has issued a warning to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) regarding their reported consideration of Ben Stokes for the role of England’s ODI captain. The discussion arises in the wake of Jos Buttler stepping down from the position following England’s disappointing campaign in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
England endured a disastrous tournament, failing to register a single win in Group B, suffering defeats against Afghanistan, South Africa, and Australia, which led to their early exit before the semi-finals. In response, ECB Managing Director Rob Key hinted that Stokes was among the leading contenders for the captaincy.
“Ben Stokes is one of the best captains I’ve ever seen. So it would be stupid not to look at him. It’s just the knock-on effect of what that means,” Key stated. “You look at every single option and think, what is the best thing to do? How is that going to impact other things?”
Stokes, who previously reversed his ODI retirement to feature in the 2023 World Cup, had expressed interest in playing in the Champions Trophy. However, a hamstring injury during England’s tour of New Zealand last year ruled him out of contention. Notably, he has not played a 50-over match since that World Cup campaign.
While his name has emerged as a strong candidate for the ODI captaincy, Broad has expressed serious reservations about the move, calling it a “decision of desperation.”
“I would be lost for words if England appointed him,” Broad told Daily Mail. “Firstly, there’s the schedule. He’s skipping the IPL to focus on Test cricket and manage his body for the major assignments ahead. How many overs has Stokes successfully bowled in the last three years while battling knee injuries? Not many. And now you’re going to add the workload of bowling eight to ten overs per match in the 50-over format? The mathematics of that makes no sense.”
Stokes already faces a grueling year in Test cricket, with England set to host India for a five-match series before heading to Australia for the Ashes. (Agencies)
