Mark Butcher has backed Sam Curran as England’s T20I captain while picking Harry Brook as Ben Stokes’ successor in Tests.
Speaking on Wisden Cricket Weekly Podcast, Mark Butcher has backed Sam Curran to take over from Harry Brook as England's T20I captain, if the latter is to succeed Stokes in the Test role. As England's Test vice-captain, Brook is favourite to take over the reins from Stokes, however, Butcher raised concerns with the 27-year-old wearing the armband in all three formats.
“I think Sam Curran would do a great job as T20I captain,” Butcher said. “And funnily enough, Sam Curran's stock in terms of Test match cricket has just kind of gone up, hasn't it? Given what England are likely to need to plug the gap that that Stokes has left as an all-rounder.”
Curran has never led England in T20Is, but he has experience of leading in franchise T20 cricket. The all-rounder has captained Surrey in the T20 Blast, Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League, and Desert Vipers in the International League T20 before.
His record as a T20 captain is also decent, winning 31 out of 48 matches so far. Moreover, Curran also led the Desert Vipers to victory earlier this year in ILT20, beating MI Emirates in the final. Curran has age on his side and can be a long-term option as well for England in T20 cricket.
Meanwhile, Butcher backed Brook to keep his captiancy role in the ODI format, as well as becoming Test captain.
“I think he [Brook] is both the best option and the only option [to be England’s Test captain],” Butcher said. “I think somebody who is in the right time of his life and career, age-wise, and can literally give it absolutely every minute of his time because that's what it requires and that's why it's so damn difficult. You have to be everything to everybody in that job and score your runs too.”
Brook has an excellent record as England’s T20I captain so far, winning 15 out of 21 and losing only three while the other three games ended in no result. While he is yet to lead in Tests, Brook has won eight and lost nine ODIs as England captain so far.
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