Former England pacer Stuart Broad has issued a strong warning to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) against appointing all-rounder Ben Stokes as the next ODI captain. The debate over England’s leadership in the 50-over format has intensified following Jos Buttler’s resignation after England’s disastrous campaign in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
ECB Managing Director Rob Key has hinted that Ben Stokes is among the leading candidates for the role. Speaking to the media, Key praised Stokes’ leadership abilities, 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 the knock-on effect of what that means.”
Key acknowledged the complexity of the decision, adding, “You look at every single option and think: What is the best thing to do? How is that going to impact other things?”
Despite Stokes’ credentials and leadership experience, Stuart Broad has strongly opposed the idea of him taking over the ODI captaincy, calling it a “decision of desperation.”
“I would be lost for words if England appointed him,” Broad said in a recent interview.
Broad highlighted the physical toll such a role would take on Stokes, who has been managing persistent knee issues. “Firstly, there’s the schedule. He’s skipping the IPL to focus on Test cricket and manage his body for 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 make no sense,” Broad explained.
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