Stuart Broad Plays Down England Test Captain's Role; Aim On Test Side Return First
Published - 17 Apr 2022, 05:35 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 01:07 AM
Senior England pacer Stuart Broad has no plans of replacing Joe Root as England’s next Test captain. On Friday (April 15), Root announced his decision to relinquish the red-ball leadership after England’s tough winter where they lost to Australia (4-0) in the Ashes Down Under followed by the 1-0 defeat in the three-match Test series against West Indies last month.
Root took over the reins from Sir Alastair Cook in February 2017 and will end up as England’s most-capped Test captain. Root led England in 64 Test matches having won 27 and losing 26 while 11 games resulted in a draw.
Who will succeed Joe Root as England Test captain?
Many experts are considering Ben Stokes, who was Root’s deputy in the England Test side, to be the natural successor of the Yorkshire player. However, Broad is also another player in contention for the role given his tactical acumen and seniority with the England team.
It is not something I have given any thought to – Stuart Broad on Test captaincy
Broad, who was sidelined for the West Indies Tests after the Ashes disastrous, denied any plans to wear the captain’s armband. The 35-year-old is keen on making his return to the Test team on the basis of County Championship performance.
“Naturally, I am aware that my name has been touted as a potential successor to Joe as England captain and I guess that is because I am an experienced centrally contracted player who has been around the international game a long time,” Broad wrote in a column for Daily Mail.
“However, it is not something I have given any thought to because firstly I am not currently in possession of a shirt within the England Test team and my focus is very much on changing that by taking wickets for Nottinghamshire over the next few weeks,” he added.
Apart from Broad, England stalwart James Anderson was also dropped from the Test squad against West Indies. Broad missed the first two games for Nottinghamshire in the ongoing County Championship Division Two 2022.
