England’s white-ball cricket is at a crossroads after Jos Buttler resigned as captain following a disappointing Champions Trophy campaign. With managing director Rob Key aiming to identify the “best person” to take charge, questions have been raised over whether Test captain Ben Stokes might also lead in ODIs.
Stokes, who last played a 50-over match in England’s disastrous 2023 World Cup defence, is still an option. Key acknowledged Stokes’ remarkable leadership abilities, adding, “Ben Stokes is one of the best captains I’ve ever seen, so it’d be stupid not to look at him,” Key told Sky Sports.
However, he acknowledged the importance of considering the implications of such a dual function.
England is also considering having separate ODI and T20 leaders, since Key believes the formats require a different strategy. Several names have come up in the negotiations, including Phil Salt, Liam Livingstone, and Harry Brook. Key emphasised that the selection will not be rushed: “We’re looking for the best person, someone who can take this forward.”
England’s Champions Trophy loss in the group stage revealed long-standing difficulties. Losses to Australia, Afghanistan, and South Africa revealed faults in team balance, with England opting for a pace-heavy approach in subcontinental circumstances. Brydon Carse and Mark Wood had injuries that limited their campaign even more. Initially, Adil Rashid was the sole specialist spinner, with Rehan Ahmed called in as an injury substitute.
Reflecting on the team’s troubles, Key said, “We were quite awful. We haven’t done especially well in white-ball cricket since Eoin Morgan’s time. The batting, in particular, has dropped off a cliff.
The difficulties were clear in the buildup to the Champions Trophy, with England suffering crushing defeats in India in both T20 and ODI series. There were reports that only Joe Root practiced in the nets throughout the ODI series, which Key denied. “That story wasn’t true,” he explained. “I saw the team in Pakistan, and they practiced hard. Poor performances were not due to a lack of preparation.
Former players, including as Kevin Pietersen, condemned England’s tactics, but Key defended his team. He emphasised that England’s players are extremely committed but have struggled with execution and decision-making under pressure. “There is no scenario in which we believe players don’t care or are arrogant. Sometimes they’re irresponsible and make mistakes, but that’s part of the game.”
Key also highlighted the need for stronger media communication from the players, noting, “We speak a lot of rubbish in press conferences, trying not to give too much away, and end up creating headlines.”