Hussain issues warning over Ben Stokes replacing Joe Root as England captain

Joe Root has resigned as England Test captain after a poor run of recent results which saw his side win just one of their last 17 Test matches

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Joe Root resigns as England Test captain after disastrous winter

Nasser Hussain has warned that even though Ben Stokes is the “obvious choice” to replace Joe Root as England Test captain, they must ensure he is in the “right place mentally and physically” to take on the role.

Root has stood down as skipper after five years in charge following a series defeat to the West Indies. And Stokes is widely viewed as his most likely successor, given he is the current vice-captain and one of the few players guaranteed a spot in the side.

Hussain also feels Stokes is the best option to replace Root, although he does have some concerns. Speaking to Sky Sports, Hussain said: “The difficult thing for Stokes is the point I made about the toll it takes on you as a captain.

“You have to be in the right place mentally and physically. Obviously, Ben’s been through some issues mentally off the field of late, and if I was the new managing director of cricket, the very first journey I would be making would be to go and have a cup of coffee with Ben and ask him where he is with his game, with his life away from his game to make sure he’s in the right place.

“From what I see, the players hang on every word Stokes says in that dressing room. He doesn’t even have to say anything, and they look in his direction to see his reaction.

“He’s so well respected in that dressing room and Root would love playing under Stokes. Root is the sort of guy would play under anyone, but Root would give his everything for Stokes.”

If Stokes is not “in the right place” to take the captaincy, then Hussain feels Stuart Broad should be given the job. Broad previously captain England in T20 cricket between 2011 and 2014 and is a veteran of 152 Test matches.

“If Stokes is not in the right place, then short-term Stuart Broad has an excellent cricket brain, is a real fighter, a real competitor, and he’s got a point to prove after what’s happened in the last few months and we know what Broad is like when he’s got a point to prove,” Hussain added.

“Pat Cummins has led Australia as a bowler brilliantly, so in the short term, I can see Broad doing a similar thing. There are not that many candidates, the other option is to go outside the side and go down the Graeme Smith route that South Africa did, go outside the side and look in county cricket, but for me Stokes and Broad stand out.”