Harry Brook: Ben Stokes throws full support behind successor as England’s next Test captain following Stokes’ retirement from international cricket. Stokes, who retired after England’s defeat in his farewell Test, made it clear that Brook is his preferred choice to lead the red-ball side permanently.
Harry Brook currently serves as Stokes’ vice-captain in Test cricket and already captains England in ODIs and T20Is. Interestingly, when Stokes was unavailable for the second Test against New Zealand, the management chose former captain Joe Root to lead, not Brook. Stokes stated he had no part in that decision, saying, “There’s a reason why he was asked to be vice-captain… those were decisions I wasn’t part of making.”
Stokes explained that promoting Harry Brook follows the traditional leadership pathway, just as he was vice-captain under Root for a long time. “It’s a natural progression. If the captain’s not there, you step up,” he added. Stokes highlighted Brook’s growing influence in the dressing room and called him “an incredible player and one of the more senior members.”
Harry Brook was officially appointed England’s white-ball captain in April 2025 after Jos Buttler’s resignation and led the team during the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. He now occupies World No. 2 in the ICC Test Batting Rankings. Stokes concluded, “If I was asked who should do it, I’m throwing my 100% support behind Harry Brook.” With Stokes’ retirement marking a new era, Brook looks set to lead England’s Test future.