Rob Key, managing director of the England men’s cricket team, has suggested that Ben Stokes could be a strong candidate to replace Jos Buttler as England’s next ODI captain. Buttler stepped down from the role following England’s early exit from the Champions Trophy in the group stage, leaving Key and head coach Brendon McCullum with a significant decision about the future of the team’s leadership.
At a press conference at Lord’s on Thursday, Key praised Stokes’ leadership qualities, saying, “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 about the knock-on effect of what that means.”
Key emphasized that no option is off the table, with the team thoroughly evaluating all possibilities to determine the best course of action. “You look at every single option and you think: ‘Right, what is the best thing to do?’” he said.
Stokes’ ability to lead, especially in high-pressure situations, has been well-documented in his captaincy of England’s Test side. Key highlighted Stokes’ tactical acumen, referring to his skills as a “tactician” and “leader of men” who brings out the best in his teammates, particularly when the pressure is at its highest.
“He’s someone that, when the pressure is really on, he’s able to throw a blanket around the players and actually say, ‘No, no, this is the way forward, keep going with it,’” Key noted. “Those are the things you need in leadership.”
However, Key acknowledged that any potential move for Stokes would come with considerations about his workload and the broader implications for the team. “What would it then mean to him? What would that then mean to his workload? We don’t want to risk other things as well,” he said. “You’ve also got to think, what if it goes right?”
Stokes, who retired from ODIs before making a return for last year’s World Cup, last played a T20 match during England’s victorious World Cup final in November 2022. Despite his retirement, Stokes had previously expressed his willingness to return to the white-ball format if asked by the new coach. However, he added that there had been no conversations about rejoining the limited-overs setup.
“I’ve played a lot of white-ball cricket for England and I’m very happy and content with what I’ve achieved in that form of the game,” Stokes said last year in an interview with Sky Sports. “If I get the call to come and play, then obviously it’s definitely going to be a yes. But I’m not going to be too disappointed if I don’t – it means that I can just sit back and watch everyone else go out and smack it.”
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