'Absolutely nonsense, selfish to even…': Michael Vaughan blocks Ben Stokes’ appointment as ODI captain

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has made a bold statement on Ben Stokes, calling it "selfish" to even think of giving the white-ball captaincy to the injury-prone all-rounder. After Jos Buttler stepped down as England captain, Ben Stokes’ name has been making the rounds for the role.

Speaking at the MCC's Cowdrey Lecture on April 3, Vaughan shared his views on the debate surrounding England’s next ODI and T20I captain after Jos Buttler resigned following the team’s poor ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign. Under Buttler’s captaincy, England could not deliver in the ICC events, failing to make it to the semifinals since the 2022 T20 World Cup.

Harry Brook and Ben Stokes in a race to become England's next white-ball captain

While Harry Brook is considered the frontrunner for the T20I captaincy, reports suggest the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is struggling to choose between Brook and Stokes for the ODI captaincy. Notably, Stokes had retired from ODIs in 2022 and didn’t feature in the 2024 T20 World Cup to focus on red-ball cricket as he is the captain of the Test team.

However, the seasoned all-rounder made a short ODI comeback for the 2023 World Cup, but he hasn’t played a white-ball game since then and has been dealing with multiple injuries, including a hamstring tear in December last year.

Despite this, England Men’s Managing Director Rob Key recently hinted that Ben Stokes is still in the race for the white-ball captaincy. However, Michael Vaughan has strongly dismissed the idea of Stokes returning to white-ball cricket.

Also Read: Harry Brook or Ben Stokes? Eoin Morgan announces new England white-ball captain

Don't ask him: Michael Vaughan warns ECB against handing white-ball captaincy to Ben Stokes

The former England captain believes that Stokes gives everything he has and shouldn’t be burdened with more formats. Vaughan feels it’s unfair to even ask him, as Stokes would say yes out of commitment to the England cricket team.

Michael Vaughan said at the MCC's annual Cowdrey Lecture, “I think it's absolutely nonsense to think that Ben Stokes is going to play white-ball cricket. He gives absolutely everything, and that's not just when he's playing for England. You just have to see it in the way that he's training. He's all or nothing. I think it's quite, in a way, selfish to even consider him.”

He added, “Because he will say yes, and it's Ben Stokes, and he'll do whatever England asks him to do. Don't ask him. Just let him be...and I have him right up there with the best Test captains I've ever seen, with what he delivers. What he's delivered in the last three years and the way that he's got England playing, the way that he's played himself—it is right up there with the best.”

Michael Vaughan wants Ben Stokes to focus only on Test cricket

The cricket pundit wants Stokes to focus on Test cricket, where he’s already made a huge impact as captain. With major Test series coming up, including the Ashes and the World Test Championship, Vaughan believes England should protect Stokes' body and let him lead the team in Tests.

Vaughan added, “I want to see Ben captain. And it's not just India this summer; it's not just this Ashes series away from the UK. I want to see him captain in 2027, in the Ashes series. I want to see him get England to a World Test Championship final; we've never been in one. Why put the burden on him, playing white-ball cricket?”

The Englishman reminded how Ben pulled out of the Hundred because of his body. He urged the ECB to look after Stokes' body and try and make him play Test match cricket for as long as possible without putting him under the burden of white-ball cricket.

Also Read: Ben Stokes ruled out of IND vs ENG series!! Durham Coach drops bombshell revelation