Ben Stokes Is A Viable Alternative: Michael Atherton Suggests Joe Root's Replacemet For England's Test Captaincy Role

Former England player Michael Atherton feels Ben Stokes is the potential candidate to succeed Joe Root as England’s Test captain.

England was thumped by Australia on Tuesday by an inning and 14 runs in the Boxing Day Test match at the MCG. Australia took a 3-0 unassailable lead to retain the Ashes.

England failed to win their first Test series win Down Under since winning 3-1 in 2010/11 under the captaincy of Andrew Strauss.

Root has now stood as England’s Test skipper in 59 matches and won 27 out of them. This is his third Ashes series since he led the Three Lions in the 2017/18 tour in Down Under.

Atherton feels Root is a great player and ambassador of the game. Because of not winning the Ashes after three attempts as England’s skipper, the former England player wants someone else to take over the reins from Root.

“There have been so many errors here, from selection to strategy, that the captain has to bear personal responsibility … This could have been a much closer series had Root got things right on the field,” Atherton wrote in his column for The Times.

“Root has been a good England captain, and has always carried himself superbly and is an incredible ambassador for the sport, but having done the job for five years and having had three cracks at the Ashes, including two awful campaigns in Australia, it is time for someone else to have a go,” he further mentioned.

Ben Stokes is a viable alternative: Michael Atherton

Stokes, who was earlier Root’s deputy in the oldest format before he took an indefinite break from the game in July, is being pushed as next England Test captain by many pundits. Atherton also reckoned that the star England all-rounder is the viable alternative to Root.

“Ben Stokes is a viable alternative, having done an excellent job as a stand-in briefly in the summer. His bowling is starting to wind down, and, as he may not get into England’s best T20 side now, he can be given a breather during those matches,” he wrote.

There is no way Chris Silverwood will survive the Ashes: Michael Atherton

England head coach Chris Silverwood will remain absent from the fourth Test in Sydney after he was found as close contact of a family member.

Silverwood, who was earlier with the team as their bowling coach, replaced Trevor Bayliss as England’s head coach after the 2019 Ashes. Atherton is of the opinion that Silverwood shouldn’t continue with the role once the Ashes 2021-22 is completed.

“At the moment there seems to be an absence of authority and an unwillingness to challenge the players,” Atherton mentioned.

“There is no way Silverwood will (or should) survive the Ashes, which should allow a reorganisation of the coaching and selecting responsibilities.”

England will play against Australia in the fourth Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), the match starts on January 5.

Also Read: Trevor Bayliss Doesn’t Want Joe Root, Chris Silverwood To Be Scapegoats Of Ashes Debacle