Ben Stokes should replace Joe Ruth as England ‘s test leader, says former British Governor Michael Vaughn. Vaughn told the BBC Special Match Podcast test that Stoke was the best he could take on, but he would need support. “I do not see anyone else who could take the position and have a guaranteed position on the side,” Vaughn said. “In Ben Stokes you clearly have someone who has a smart cricket brain, he will give it his all, he will definitely have the respect of the players around him.” Stokes took a break from cricket in July for mental health, but returned to the England squad for the Ashes series. The multi-talented man has not trained after suffering from pain in his left knee during England’s tour of the West Indies in March, but hopes to return to County Durham next month. “Stokes is everything to a man and a player you would like, but he will need a lot of support around him, because when you have that complete tag and they have that person, they think they can do anything.” said Vaughn. “You need a higher core around him to give him some pointers. “You have to have someone say ‘listen Ben, focus on what you’re really good at’ and that ‘s out on the pitch, making decisions and trying to give us your best performance.” The 30-year-old was the leader of a young English team in a 3-0 victory in the ODI series against Pakistan last summer, after the Covid outburst that made England name a completely new team of 18 men. “If he performs as we know he can, he will lead the team by example,” Vaughan added. However, the BBC’s cricket correspondent Jonathan Agniou said he was concerned about Stokes succeeding Ruth. “There are so few candidates that it precludes any kind of long-term appointment,” Agniu said. “Someone like Ben Stokes could be like that if he’s good enough, but I don’t know if he’s good for Stokes or for English cricket if he was put in charge. “You look back at the great characters who have ruled England like Ian Botham, Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff – they have all failed as captains. We all want Stokes to go out there and express himself.” The selection of the next leader will be the first task for the new management hierarchy, with England in the process of appointing a new managing director and coach following the departures of Ashley Giles and Chris Silverwood after the Ashes. Root led England to a record 64 tests and won more (27) and lost more (26) than any other man who led the team, although only one of those victories came in the last 17 tests. It was expected that any decision about his future would be made only with the new CEO and head coach.
