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The sudden retirement of Ben Stokes put the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in another delicate situation, as they will have to find their next captain, the successor to Ben Stokes, for the Test cricket team. Who will be England's next captain in Tests?
Former India opener, now a cricket expert and commentator, Aakash Chopra offered a clear picture of the scenario in English cricket. Aakash Chopra said that Harry Brook, currently the white-ball captain of the team, is seemingly England's next captain in the whites.
Who will be England's next Test captain after the retirement of Ben Stokes
Joe Root also appears as an option who could lead the team from the front in the longest format of the game. But Chopra's bet is on Harry Brook, as the selection of captaincy is expected to be a part of a long-term vision.
During the second Test against New Zealand, when Ben Stokes was dropped from the team for breaching the team's night curfew rule, Joe Root was appointed as the captain for the match. If the England and Wales Cricket Board wants someone as a stop-gap captain, then Root can be the perfect candidate, but for long-term plans, Brook looks good as per Aakash Chopra's observation.
"After Ben Stokes's departure, it seems like Harry Brooke is the only option who can be England's captain. He can take care of the team's back end. He must have great stats. He plays a little aggressive brand of cricket. He plays a very entertaining, exciting brand of cricket. In fact, sometimes it seems like test cricket. He plays in the T20 template. But he is extremely successful," the former Team India opener said on a CREX video.
"He already has leadership. So, it seems like he is the next in line. It is possible that, for a stopgap, they might look towards Joe Root again, like he did in the second test match. But since this won't be a short-term decision, I am thinking Harry Brooke might just be the guy whom you see captaining England," he added.
The Ben Stokes era is over. Who is the ideal successor? CREXpert Aakash Chopra shares his take.#BenStokes #EnglandCricket #CricketMatlabCREX pic.twitter.com/itzXXv0d6J
— CREX (@Crex_live) July 2, 2026
Aakash Chopra raises doubts over the Bazball method
Chopra's further concern is over the brand of cricket the England cricket team plays in Tests, and an aggressive approach against any bowling attack, which is known as Bazball.
The Bazball method allows the batters to free their arms, which looks exciting in Tests, but with the method, the success rate is questionable. With the combination of head coach Brendon McCullum and the former skipper Ben Stokes, England's Bazball game plan was at its peak.
Why should England move from the Bazball method?
Aakash Chopra pointed out that Brook's batting approach aligns well with the unique batting style in Tests. But as the success rate is not satisfying, will the team consider making a shift in their new game plan with their next leader of the team?
"If Harry becomes the captain, then just continuing in the same vein and fashion will not be difficult at all. Because even Harry likes the style of playing. It suits him. So, they might continue. But at some stage, they will also want to review that it is entertaining, but it doesn't make you win. It makes your team lose," said Aakash Chopra.
"How can it be exciting? This is the fourth cycle of the World Test Championship. And even if you don't come close to the finals, forget about winning the trophy, then you need to review it, re-assess it, and maybe the end-of-basketball kind of mentality is also inevitable. Please start winning," he urged the England cricket team.
